Tyco Electronics Corporation

Raychem Limited

Te Connectivity Corporation

Array Connector Corporation

Peter J Dutton

Thomas Dean Ratzlaff

Hyo Chang Yun

Lei Wang

James Thomas O'Keeffe

Paul Craig Tally

Erling Hansen

Bruce R Conway

Robert D Gracey

Santiago Llano

Joseph A Lomastro

Timm Seaton

Mohamed Hussein Higgy

Lajos J Vidakovits

Hailing Liu

David C Pique

Marc W Piozet

Rebecca Wan Chai

Mohamad Higgy

Jason T Valenta

System includes a first object having an energy-assisted bonding (EAB) mechanism along a surface of the first object. The EAB mechanism includes a heat-activatable adhesive layer and a carbon-filled (CF) sheet material. The CF sheet material is electrically conductive for resistive heating. A control sub-system is configured to control a coupling actuator to drive an actuator body toward the first object, wherein the actuator body and the first object engage each other. The coupling actuator is configured to apply pressure to the EAB mechanism along the surface of the first object. The control sub-system is also configured to control the power source to apply a current through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism to provide thermal energy through resistive heating that activates the adhesive layer along the interface.

System and method for bonding structural components

An electrical device includes first and second terminals and a terminal holder holding the first and second terminals. A first insulation layer is provided between the first and second terminals and a second insulation layer is provided between the first and second terminals. The first and second insulation layers are different materials. The first insulation layer is a base layer and the second insulation layer is a high arc tracking resistance rated layer on the base layer to discourage arc tracking on the first insulation layer.

Electrical device having reduced arc tracking

An enclosure includes a plurality of modular construction units that connect together to at least partially define an internal compartment of the enclosure. Each construction unit includes a wall segment extending a length from a corner end to a free end, and a corner segment extending outward from the corner end of the wall segment. The corner segment is integrally formed with the wall segment. The corner segment includes a receiver socket that is configured to receive the free end of another corresponding construction unit therein to connect the construction units together. The construction units connect together one after the other with a chasing symmetry to define the internal compartment of the enclosure.

Modular enclosure

An enclosure includes a plurality of modular corner segments and a plurality of modular wall segments that connect together to at least partially define an internal compartment of the enclosure. The wall segments extending lengths between opposite free ends. At least a majority of the wall segments are fabricated from a polymer. Each corner segment includes opposite first and second receiver sockets that are each configured to receive a corresponding free end of a corresponding wall segment therein to connect the corner segment to the corresponding wall segments. At least a majority of the corner segments are fabricated from a polymer. The corner segments and the wall segments connect together to define the internal compartment of the enclosure.

A connector including a pair of shells mated together along an interface that extends in a longitudinal direction. The pair of shells form a passage therebetween for conveying an electrical current and/or optical communication therethrough. Each shell includes an outer surface and a side projection that extends along the outer surface in substantially the longitudinal direction. The side projection has a ledge that projects from the outer surface and faces away from the interface. The connector also includes a coupling component that is configured to move along the shells in the longitudinal direction and engage the side projections. The coupling component has a slot configured to receive both side projections therein and is at least partially defined by a slot edge. The slot edge engages each ledge when the coupling component is moved over the side projections. The slot edge presses the side projections toward each other to secure the shells together.

Connector including housing shells secured together

A main body includes a plurality of holes formed therein a main clip and includes an exterior contact portion positioned exterior to the main body, a first carrier strip connected to the exterior contact portion and located within the main body and a plurality of clips extending from this carrier strip, each position within a corresponding hole formed in the main body. A slave clip includes a carrier strip located within the main body and a plurality of clips extending from the carrier strip, each positioned within a corresponding hole of the main body to make the corresponding one of the clips of the main clip. The pair of the clips formed within each hole form a terminal to allow terminal portions of a grounding wire to be connected therein. A cap having a plurality of holes corresponding in position and size to the holes formed in the main body may be frictionally engaged in a hollow portion of the main body to complete the assembly. The same potential block (e.g., grounding block) thus formed may be easily assembled utilizing only a few parts. Further, these parts may also be easily manufactured.

Method for making same potential block

The present electrical connector assembly includes an outer shell capable of receiving at least one electrical contact module. The outer shell works in cooperation with an improved contact module retaining device which secures the electrical contact module within the shell. The combination of the outer shell with the contact module retaining device protects the critical elements of the retaining device from exterior environments, does not interfere with insertion of the module into the shell, and provides for a precise alignment of the module during and after insertion of the module into the shell. In particular, the outer shell is comprised of two half shells which are open during attachment of a contact module retaining device to each of the half shells. The two half shells are joined to form a connector housing after attachment of the module retaining device. The preferred module retaining device is a clip which is attached so that the main body of the clip is in contact with an interior surface of the half shell. The clip is precisely aligned within the half shell using snap fit contacts which hold the clip in position until the half shells are joined, after which the clips may be held in position by contact with the interior surface of the half shell alone.

Electrical connector with split shells and retention clip

Same potential block such as a grounding block and method for making an improved same potential block

A modular connector includes a set of pairs of modular inserts configured to mate with each other to convey electrical signals or power in a structure such as a vehicle. Each pair of modular inserts are coupled to their respective wiring lines and supported by their respective structures. One of each pair of modular inserts is supported by a receptacle shell, while the other is supported by a plug shell. The modular inserts are characterized with removable characterized buttons for cooperation respectively with characterizations slots provided in the receptacle shell and plug shell. The characterization scheme ensures that incorrect modular inserts are not loaded onto the wrong position of the receptacle shell and plug shell. The shields of the wiring lines are grounded to grounding contacts provided in the corresponding modular inserts. The receptacle shell is coupled to a grounding shell supported by the vehicle with the corresponding grounding contacts contacting the grounding shell for grounding. The plug shell is coupled to the receptacle shell to place the respective contacts in the pairs of modular inserts in mating connections to convey signals or power. The grounding contacts of the modular inserts in the plug shell contact the grounding shell for grounding. The connector is easy and quick to assemble without the need for tools and with savings in assembly time.

Modular connector

A mass termination connector (2) having a low profile backshell which may be efficiently stacked. A wiring assembly (24) having conductors (26) extend through a braid (10) and a backshell adapter body (6) to a connector housing (4). The braid is attached to the exterior of the adapter body, removed from the interior compartment, to protect the wiring assembly from chafing during shock and vibration.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Peter J Dutton