Yazaki Corporation

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Aptiv Technologies Limited

Eric J Stern

William J Mosby

Jesus R Morales

Daniel S Eichorn

Mark G Hill

Theodore J Borowicz

Todd A Meinberg

Itzel Alejandra Hinojos Salayandia

Sergio Armendariz Molina

Daniel Alejandro Argumedo Sifuentes

Roberto Carlos Chacon

A cover for an electrical center of a vehicle includes a cover member defining a first cover lock assurance (CLA) feature and configured to cover electrical components of the electrical center when the first CLA feature is fully engaged with a second CLA feature defined by a housing of the electrical center and a CLA system configured to assure the full engagement of the cover member to the housing of the electrical center, the CLA system including a third CLA feature configured to selectively engage/disengage with the first and second CLA features to engage the cover member to the housing of the electrical center and a machine-readable indicator configured to be fully visible and readable by a CLA device when the third CLA feature is fully engaged and seated within the first and second CLA features.

Electrical center cover with machine-readable indicator confirmation of lock engagement

An environmentally sealed electrical housing assembly with an integrated connector and a method for manufacturing same is presented. The assembly includes a non-accessible electrical component, such an electromechanical relay, and a plurality of terminals connected to a circuit board. A dielectric housing encases the non-accessible electrical component. The housing is in intimate contact with the non-accessible electrical component, thereby sealing it from the environment. The housing defines an integral perimeter wall that surrounds the terminals, forming a connector shroud. Removable electrical components, such as fuse assemblies, may be attached to the terminals inside the shroud. When a sealed mating connector is attached to the housing, the removable components are also sealed from the environment. The assembly allows distribution of power switching functions and circuit protection to be distributed to a location near the electrical load instead of a central location, such as a bussed electrical center.

Environmentally sealed electrical housing assembly with integrated connector

An electrical center for distributing electrical power to an electrical system of a vehicle is provided. A housing of the electrical center includes a shroud that protrudes outward from a sidewall of the housing. A fuse assembly which is configured to fit into the housing includes a tab that protrudes outward from the sidewall. A sleeve is configured to engage the shroud and the tab such that a receptacle for a connector of the electrical system is formed on the sidewall.

Vehicle electrical center

An electrical distribution center includes an upper housing, a circuit board disposed in the upper housing, and a lower housing having a plurality of lower terminal receiving cavities and a plurality of alignment cavities. A plurality of terminals is mounted on the circuit board such that each terminal is in electrical communication with a respective electrically conductive member. The terminals have contact portions below the circuit board and disposed in the lower terminal receiving cavities such that each of the terminals extends from the circuit board no more than a first predetermined distance. A plurality of alignment posts are fixed to the circuit board and received within the alignment cavities such that each of the alignment posts extends from the circuit board at least a second predetermined distance which is greater than the first predetermined distance.

Electrical distribution center

A one touch operating apparatus includes an actuator connected to a relay and causing actuation of the relay to switch a relay contact to a position supplying electric power to a drive motor to move a component in one direction. A latch circuit maintains power on the relay after momentary actuation of the actuator. An overcurrent protection device and a diode are connected in series between the switchable relay contact and the relay to form the latch circuit. The overcurrent protection device is a positive temperature coefficient resistor which detects a temperature increase resulting from an overcurrent through the motor to open the latch circuit and deenergize the relay terminating electric power to the motor. The overcurrent protective device is automatically resettable.

One touch vehicle window operating circuit

A waterproof grounding connector is securable to a grounding surface and capable of receiving a plurality of electrical terminals in a sealing relationship. The waterproof grounding connector includes a connector body having opposite first and second ends, and a plurality of parallel longitudinal chambers extending through the connector body. Each chamber is adapted to receive an electrical terminal. A lock means is provided to secure the electrical terminals within the chambers. A hollow, peripheral shroud is located at the second end of the connector body and defines an enclosure having an internal peripheral surface. A flexible grommet with a continuous peripheral edge is adapted to be inserted into the shroud enclosure and creates a continuous peripheral seal between the grommet edge and the internal shroud surface. The grommet includes a plurality of slots which correspond to and align with the chambers. A conductive busbar contains a base portion with a plurality of perpendicularly extending blades which penetrate the grommet slots in a sealing relationship. The busbar blades correspond to and align with the chambers. A mounting tab extends from the base portion of the busbar for mounting the busbar to the grounding surface. A means is provided to secure the grommet and the busbar within the connector body.

Waterproof grounding connector and method of assembling same

An electrical power distribution module for use with an automotive vehicle electrical system is adapted to be mounted on the top surface of a standard automotive lead-acid storage battery and connect with a battery terminal extending therefrom. The power distribution module includes a battery post connecting assembly for housing a terminal connector for making electrical connections with the battery terminal and alternator and starter cables, a fuse block for receiving a plurality of fuses associated with separate vehicle electrical circuits, and a harness guide channel for routing a plurality of wires which connect the fuses with their associated circuits. The power distribution module is mounted to lay flat on top of the battery's upper surface with the battery terminal extending upwardly into the module to be engaged by the battery terminal connector. The module does not extend substantially above the highest point of the battery terminal, nor does it extend laterally substantially outside of the battery perimeter. A cover is attached to the power distribution module and has hinged sections which may be opened to provide access to the battery terminal connector and the fuse receptacles.

Battery-mounted power distribution module

A bayonet-type fastener especially adapted for securing wiring harnesses at predetermined locations within vehicle bodies. A half-arrowhead; i.e., single barb bayonet fastener is formed of flat ribbon stock such as plastic to define an open sided hollow body in which the base legs lie in spaced parallel relationship, a cam surface for insertion purposes is formed on the outer surface of the barb arm, and the barb arm terminates in a retention leg which also lies in spaced parallel relationship to both of the base legs. The entire structure compresses when thrust through an approximately sized aperture and thereafter reexpands to prevent or inhibit removal. The single barb eliminates the ambiguity arising from multiple audible clicks associated with multiple barb type fasteners.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Eric J Stern