Amp LLC

Henry O Herrmann, Jr

Douglas W Glover

Reuben E Ney

Lee W Steely

A vehicle multiplex system includes a multiplex controller mounted in a fuse block of the vehicle. Both power buses and control buses radiate from the fuse block, and the control buses interconnect the controller with respective input and output units distributed about the vehicle. Preferably, the controller selects one of the control buses as an active bus at any given time and isolates the remaining control buses both from the active control bus and from the controller. In this way, system reliability is improved, and electromagnetic interference is reduced. By positioning the multiplex controller in the fuse block, wiring requirements for the multiplex system are simplified and the multiplex system is more readily integrated into the electrical system of the vehicle.

Vehicle multiplex system

An improved multi-pin high voltage connector is disclosed. The connector is easy to assemble and use, is low in cost and can withstand on the order of ten thousand mating cycles. It also has recessed contacts so that it is substantially impossible to make accidental engagement with the contacts in either the mated or unmated condition. The contact isolation is provided by intermating egg crate walls on both the plug and receptacle members which are received in grooves in the opposite member. This also provides an extremely long creepage path.

Multi-pin high voltage connector

An improved sealing means is disclosed for use with high voltage rack and panel connectors. The subject sealing means is received in a cavity of a panel or ferrule member and forms a recess which closely receives a rigid portion of a mating rack or mate connector member. A further portion of the sealing means allows for some flow to compensate for misalignment of the rigid portions of the mating connector members due to inaccuracies resulting from practical molding processes and/or mounting configurations. The configuration of the seal assures that it will remain in the panel when the connector is unmated.

High voltage rack and panel connector

An anode connector is disclosed utilizing insulation piercing techniques to effect interconnection of a terminal with a conductor of a high voltage lead. This connector obviates the previous techniques requiring screws for attachment of the terminals and/or the molding in place of pre-terminated conductors resulting in a connector which is impossible to repair. The subject connector includes a molded insulative housing suitably profiled to engage both an anode and a high voltage lead. A terminal according to the present invention is mounted in the housing and receives the high voltage lead therein with the terminal effecting an insulation piercing, conductor engaging termination of the high voltage lead.

Anode connector

A potting shell of resilient material is disclosed. The shell has an inwardly directed resilient lip which makes a wiping engagement with a rigid connector housing which is to be potted. The wiping engagement provides efficient sealing so that the previously required adhesives can be omitted. The elastomeric shell assumes sufficient rigidity after potting to become an integral part of the connector.

Elastomeric potting shell

A high voltage connector is disclosed which can be fabricated by low cost production methods. The subject connector has a header, which can be snap assembled to a circuit board or the like, and a plug member mating therewith. The plug member is formed by a housing which defines a plurality of cavities and a like plurality of snap-in terminal carrying members each received in a respective cavity. The subject connector can employ economical stamped and formed terminals and obviate the previous necessity for insert molding of the housing around terminated wires.

Low cost high voltage connector

A high voltage connector assembly is disclosed for terminating a coaxial cable, and comprises plug and receptacle members. The receptacle member has a profiled blind bore of reduced diameter in a forward face thereof, and peripheral contact means at a forward end having a flared mouth portion diverging outwardly from the forward face. The plug member is provided having a frustoconical forward nose portion, a rearward portion, and an integral intermediate annular flange portion. Conductive material is applied to the plug rearward portion, and to rearwardly and outwardly facing surfaces of the plug flange portion. As the plug nose portion is press inserted into the receptacle bore against a rearward surface within the bore, the plug nose portion flexes outwardly along its taper to evacuate the receptacle bore. Further insertion compresses the plug flange against the receptacle forward face and progressively influences the outwardly facing surface of the plug flange outwardly against the contact means flared mouth portion.

High voltage hermetically sealed connector

An electrical connector assembly is disclosed having the capability of being field repairable as well as being assembled in a plurality of configurations by appropriate selection of parts. The assembly includes mating plug and receptacle shells, a pin insert and a socket insert each capable of being received in either shell aligned in a selected one of a plurality of positions and a mating socket terminal and pin terminal each being mountable in either said socket or said pin insert. The connector assembly further includes rubber boots to enclose conductors leading to the respective terminals as well as a rear sealing gasket making a sealing engagement between a respective pin or socket insert and the sealing boots, and the respective socket or plug shells. The connector assembly also includes a compression ring for applying compression to the sealing gasket to effect the sealing engagement, a compression cone providing rear gasket compression, strain relief for the conductors, interfacial seals, and a spring loaded coupling ring. The above itemized parts can be arranged in any one of a number of configurations according to the particular local needs with the entire assembly being such that it can be easily disassembled for repair in the field without requiring the use of extensive and particularized tools.

Field repairable connector assembly

An improved coupling ring is disclosed having unitary structure providing spring biased engagement between cooperating members. The coupling ring has a substantially cylindrical profile including, at one end, a rigid portion with inwardly directed helical latching grooves and, at the opposite end, an integral spring portion terminating with an inwardly directed annular flange. The members to be coupled are assembled with the coupling ring engaging a shoulder of one member by the flange and with the grooves receiving lugs fixed on the opposite member so that rotation of the ring will draw the members together and hold them together in a spring loaded condition.

Resiliently loaded coupling ring

A high voltage, quick disconnect electrical connector assembly is disclosed formed from entirely dielectric members which assure rapid disconnection of the assembly even in the unlikely event of jamming of the normal disconnect mechanism. The connector assembly includes a pair of mating housing members with latching inserts fixed in a receptacle member and engaging in a plug member of the assembly. The quick disconnect feature is provided by an annular shroud member which slides axially on the receptacle member between a first position in which the latching inserts are in a normally outward position allowing free insertion of the plug into the receptacle and a second position in which the shroud biases the latching inserts so that lobes on the free ends thereof project into respective detents in the plug portion to lock the connector members together. The latching inserts each are provided with a narrow cross-sectioned neck portion which will break upon application of a predetermined force, in the event of jamming of the regular disconnect mechanism. A wiping seal is provided adjacent the free end of the shroud to perform a sealing function between connector members during disconnection to prevent arcs generated during disconnection from coming in contact with the external and possibly explosive environment. Thus the assembly is substantially explosion proof, even in an explosive environment, and fail safe in disconnection.

High voltage quick disconnect electrical connector assembly

The disclosure relates to a miniature electrical connector having a rigid dielectric socket portion and an elastomeric tubular body sealably connected both inside the socket and over an insulated conductor, a thin internal flange of the elastomeric body being elastically folded and stretched to an elongate body being elastically folded and stretched to an elongate sleeve form grippingly engaging a longitudinal section of the insulated conductor preventing withdrawal thereof from the elastomeric body.

Miniature universal connector module

A connector incorporating a corotron which is in the form of an elongate high voltage carrying conductor which creates a high voltage space charge distributed evenly along the conductor length. The connector includes a dielectric channel into which are plugged dielectric end blocks which precisely position and maintain a straight length of the conductor in free space. Means are provided to tension the conductor and to compensate for dimensional changes thereof. Other means provide safe pluggable connection of the conductor to a source of high voltage. The connector is fabricated from component parts readily assembled without the need for special tooling.

Corotron connector

A high voltage electrical connector wherein the plug and receptacle include rigid dielectric shells. Electrical sockets are retained within rigid dielectric sleeves molded integral with an interior wall of the receptacle. Insulation covered wires are terminated to the socket and are gathered in a bundling ring and then encapsulated. A soft resilient silicone insert is seated in the forward end of the plug and is provided with tapered recesses for matably receiving the rigid dielectric sleeves of the receptacle. Electrically conducting pins are first terminated to insulation covered wires and are then inserted into the rearward portion of the plug until the pins project into the tapered recesses of the insert. In one version the rearward portion of the plug is then filled with an encapsulant material sealably encircling the insulation covered wires. In another version the silicone insert is provided with elongated tubular extensions which project through apertures in a solid plug end. The tubular sections thus compressibly encircle the corresponding insulation covered wires. The connector is further provided with polarizing features and a threaded coupling to retain the plug and receptacle in mated relationship.

Micro-miniature circular high voltage connector

An all dielectric right angle connector is disclosed for interconnecting a pluggable high voltage tube with an electrical high voltage lead. A high voltage lead is terminated with an electrical receptacle type contact which is latchably retained within an elbow portion of the connector. A braided conductive sheath or shielding of the cable is received over an end of the connector provided with projecting teeth. A tapered sleeve is latchably secured to the teeth captivating the sheath. The sleeve is oriented by a polarizing feature of the connector. The contact is deeply recessed from each end of the connector for shock protection.

Growing community of inventors

Mt. Joy, PA, United States of America

Henry O Herrmann, Jr