Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Aptiv Technologies Limited

Mark Wayne Smith

Christopher Alan Brandon

Jesus R Morales

Erick A Rodriguez

Daniel S Eichorn

John V Caputo

Steven P Ragalyi

Alvaro Gino De La Reza

Grant Michael Wheeler

Leon E Garay

Douglas D Turner

A method of closing a spatial gap between a first mating surface of a first snap locking feature defined by a first part and a second mating surface of a second snap locking feature defined by a second part. This method includes the steps of attaching the first and second parts to one another by sliding the first and second snap locking features over one another until the first mating surface is proximate the second mating surface and deforming a portion of the first part to fabricate a protrusion that contacts the second part and urges the second part in a direction effective to place the first and second mating surfaces into direct contact with one another.

Method for reducing spatial gaps in snap locking features

A bus bar connector system and an electrical distribution center suitable for use in a motor vehicle including such a bus bar connection system is presented. The bus bar connector system includes a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a spring clip configured to apply a contact force to the first and second bus bars effective to bring at least a portion the first and second bus bars into intimate contact with one another. The spring clip may comprise two longitudinal spring arms each extending from a lateral spring base interconnecting the spring arms. These spring arms are angled toward one another and end portions of the spring arms may be angled away from one another, thereby forming an hourglass or X-shaped spring clip. The end portions of the spring arms may be configured to retain the spring clip within a slot defined by a connector housing.

Electrical bus bar connector system

A fastener and a fastener system using the fastener are disclosed. The fastener has an elongated shank having a thread formed at one end and a annular recess formed adjacent the threaded portion to define a leading and trailing abutment surface. The thread guides the fastener into engagement with one or more components having thread engagement features and the annular recess permits the free spinning of the fastener without further tightening after the thread engagement features have advanced past the thread. The fastening system includes the fastener and a component to be fastened having a passageway for accepting the fastener formed by at least two flanges engageable in the thread and engageable in the annular recess of the fastener.

Free spin fastener assembly

A power charging assembly and methods are provided to provide a pre-charge low-current state, a steady-state, high-current charging state, and an unconnect state for an electrical load of an electrical propulsion system in a hybrid electrical vehicle (HEV). The power charging assembly includes a positive contactor device, a negative contactor device, and a non-contactor device means. The rate at which that electrical load is pre-charged may be effectively controlled by using a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal received by the non-contactor device means. A current-only carrying positive or negative contactor may be configured with the non-contactor device means to further prevent electrical arcing of the contacts of the positive and the negative contactor during power charging assembly operation.

Power charging assembly and method that includes a low voltage electrical device operable with pulse width modulation (PWM) control

A bussed electrical center has a power cable for feeding electrical power to the bussed electrical center. A printed circuit board subassembly is interposed between a first housing member and a second housing member that are connectable together. An electrically conductive connector has a prong end and a distal end. The prong end is operably connected to the printed circuit board subassembly. A first fastener and a second fastener are positioned on opposite sides of the first and second housing members. When the first and second fasteners are tightened together to a draw the first and second housing members together to mechanically fasten the bussed electrical center together, the distal end and the terminal end are pressed against each other for electrical connection to each other to electrically connect the power cable to the printed circuit board subassembly.

Bussed electrical center with combination electrical and mechanical connection

A printed circuit board assembly includes a first printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces that is attached to a second printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces in a substantially perpendicular fashion. The first printed circuit board has a plurality of male terminal tabs that fit into a plurality of female terminal slots of the second printed circuit board to make a plurality of electrical connections between the electrical traces of the first printed circuit board and the electrical traces of the second printed circuit board. The assembly has at least two mechanical connections between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board comprising connector blades that are substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board and to the second printed circuit board. The connector blades may also make electrical connections between electrical traces of the first and second printed circuit boards. A method of making an alternate printed circuit board for the assembly involves punching or drilling the alternate printed circuit board to provide a plurality of female terminals in an elongate slot.

Printed circuit board assembly

An electrical connection system comprises a female connector having a plurality of female terminals, and a male connector having a plurality of male blade terminals having projecting portions that plug into the plurality of female terminals respectively when the female connector and the male connector are mated. The male blade terminals are staggered having a first population with their tips at a first relative position and a second population with their at a second different relative position so that the first tips and the second tips do not touch and fully engage the mating female terminals and the plurality of male blade terminals at the same time thereby lowering the peak engagement force required for mating the female connector and the male connector. In an alternative arrangement, the female terminals, rather than the male blade terminals are staggered.

Growing community of inventors

El Paso, TX, United States of America

Mark Wayne Smith