Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

Robert J Kobler

Tracy Lee Smith

Ronald C Laudig

An electrical connector assembly (10) includes a housing (24) having an inner terminal (50) with a spring biasing member (54), an outer conductive shell (14), and an electrical component (60) having electrodes (62) on ends thereof disposed in a recess (28) of the housing (24). The recess (28) is adjacent an inner surface of the shell (14) and the spring biasing member (54). The component is completely enclosed within the assembly (10) and is biased against the shell (14) with the electrodes (62) thereof in electrical engagement with the biasing member (54) and the inner surface of the shell (14). The improvement comprises a soldered connection (64) between the biasing member (54) and one of the electrodes (62) of the component (60) whereby the soldered connection assuredly maintains the position of the component (60) during the assembly process and thereafter.

Self-terminating electrical connector assembly

A latching system such as for matable first and second electrical connectors having matable pin and socket contact terminals comprises a pair of opposing latching arms each extending forwardly from a joint on opposing sides of the second electrical connector in cantilever fashion, to latchingly engage behind a pair of corresponding latching projections on opposing sides of the first electrical connector when the connectors are fully mated. The latching projections are high and abrupt and relatively sharp having steep forward and rearward surfaces generating substantial resistance to latching during mating. When the latching sections of the latching arms reach the sharp outer tips of the latching projections, the resistance to latching suddenly ceases and the latching sections immediately latch behind the respective projections without hanging up on top thereof, assuring full mating and providing a snap action which provides an audible signal. The latching system also provides resistance to delatching during unmating of a similar substantial level to the resistance to latching.

Latching means for electrical connectors

A coaxial connector 17 comprises, a center contact 41, a dielectric body 50 encircling concentrically the center contact 41 and a conductive and unitary shell 25 encircling the dielectric body 50, and the shell 25 is adapted for insertion into and along a cavity 18 of a housing block 8, wherein each flange 31 of the shell 25 along a corresponding side of an open seam 30 projects outward radially from the shell 25 for alignment into and along a recess 20 extending inthe housing block 8, and a corresponding terminal 33 extends from each flange 31 through the recess 20 and outwardly of the housing block 8, and the corresponding terminals 33 are side by side to provide a composite, single post 34 for insertion into a single aperture of a circuit board.

Coaxial connector in a housing block

A hermetically sealed high voltage electrical connector is provided which includes a metal support member having one or more apertures therein for receiving one or more electrical contacts. The contacts are mounted within the apertures by plastic contact-retention means which supports the contacts within the apertures and provides a hermetic seal between the contacts and the support member. The plastic contact-retention means includes plastic plug portions in the apertures; and the contacts, preferably, include one or a spaced pair of flange portions to increase the area of the bonding surface at the interface between the plastic plugs and the contacts. A metal-to-plastic adhesive may be applied at the interface between the plugs and the side walls of the apertures for enhanced bonding therebetween. According to a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises an interface connector; and the plastic contact-retention means also includes a covering portion covering substantially the entire connector except for an annular flange portion extending outwardly and adapted to be connected to an external housing. The present invention provides a reliable hermetically sealed connector that does not require ceramic sealing plugs, resulting in a lower cost connector that can be manufactured at substantially reduced temperatures.

Hermetically sealed connector

A coaxial connector (17) comprises, a center contact (41), a dielectric body (50) encircling concentrically the center contact (41) and a conductive and unitary shell (25) encircling the dielectric body (50), and the shell (25) is adapted for insertion into and along a cavity (18) of a housing block (8), wherein each flange (31) of the shell (25) along a corresponding side of an open seam (30) projects outward radially from the shell (25) for alignment into and along a recess (20) extending in the housing block (8), and a corresponding terminal (33) extends from each flange (31) through the recess (20) and outwardly of the housing block (8), and the corresponding terminals (33) are side by side to provide a composite, single post (34) for insertion into a single aperture of a circuit board.

An effective seal is provided for an electrical connector (10) by means of a substantially-rigid molded plastic insert (13) received in the housing (11) for the electrical connector (10). A potting compound (19) is injected, preferably through an opening in the base portion (14) of the insert (13), and into the space between the base portion (14) of the insert and the bottom wall of a casing (24) which supports a plurality of spaced-apart terminals (12) encapsulated by the potting compound (19). An interfacial seal (20) comprising an elastomeric sealing member is disposed flush against the base portion (14) of the insert (13), opposite to the potting compound (19). The insert (13) substantially compensates for any indentations in the potting compound (19) resulting from the curing thereof and provides an essentially flat support surface for interfacial seal (20) when connector (10) is mated to a complementary connector thus enabling an effective seal to be achieved between the two mated connectors and precludes the build-up of moisture in the indentations.

Insert means for effective seal of electrical connector and method of

A filter sleeve (15) is soldered within a coaxial assembly (10). The outer diameter of the filter sleeve (15) is soldered to an outer member (12) comprising a ground shell (2), and the inner diameter of the filter sleeve (15) is soldered to an inner member comprising a contact terminal (11). The contact terminal (11), filter sleeve (15) and ground shell (2) are arranged concentrically with respect to each other. With this structure, excellent mechanical rigidity and electrical contact are assured. Alternates of the preferred embodiment are disclosed. An improved method is also disclosed for manufacturing convenience in a cost effective manner.

Filtered coaxial assembly

A sealed electrical connector has a housing receiving terminated conductors therein, for mating to a corresponding connector. A camming member is latched to the rear of the housing with bores therethrough through which the conductors extend. Wire seals are disposed between the housing and the camming member around each conductor. A sequential latching provides a first or open position for the camming member which allows for insertion of the terminated conductors through bores of the camming member, through respective wire seals and into respective passageways of the housing wherein the terminals are seated. The camming member is then moved axially forward to a second or closed position which cams against the rear sections of the wire seals and urges and deforms them radially inwardly against the conductors so that a pressure-resistant seal is formed between the conductor, the wire seal, and the camming member. Several types of wire seals are usable with the sealed connector. A latching system for sequential latching of the housing member and camming member has two axially spaced projections on the housing which latch into a slot behind a collar in a first latching and a second latching upon urging the housing and camming members together.

Sealed electrical connector and method of using same

An elastomeric wire seal for an individual terminated electrical conductor has a transverse body section, a sleeve-like outer section extending forwardly therefrom and a tube-like inner section extending forwardly from the body section coaxially within the outer section and spaced radially therefrom by an annular gap. A profiled bore extends through the body section and the inner section through which the terminated conductor extends. A plurality of annular ridges along the profiled bore sealingly engages the conductor which deforms them outwardly such that the inner section bulges into the annular gap between the inner and outer wire seal sections. The outer section sealingly engages sidewalls of the terminal-receiving cavity of the housing. Each wire seal can receive conductors of several adjacent wire sizes.

Wire seal

An elastomeric wire seal for an individual electrical conductor has a forward conductor-engaging section, an intermediate housing-engaging section, and a rearward section which extends rearwardly from the connector housing when the wire seal is secured in a rearward portion of a terminal-receiving cavity of the housing. The rearward section has an annular ridge extending radially inwardly into the profiled bore of the wire seal so that when a terminated conductor has been inserted therethrough the annular ridge sealingly engages the conductor. The conductor is thus sealingly engaged at locations forwardly and rearwardly from the location where the wire seal sealingly engages the sidewalls of the rearward cavity portion.

An annular sealing member is a ring-like article molded from relatively incompressible elastomeric material and having an axially extending body section with at least one and preferably two annular ribs extending radially outwardly from the body section. Such a sealing member is seated in an annular groove around a plug section of a cylindrical connector housing tightly thereagainst. When the plug section is axially inserted into a hood section of a mating connector housing, the annular ribs are engaged by the inner surface of the hood section, are deformably bent over thereby, and transmit radially inward compressive force to deform the sealing member body section sealingly against the plug section, and thus form an annular sealing engagement between the housings. A plurality of ribs provides for plural sealing areas, or redundant sealing.

Annular connector seal

A method is disclosed for manufacturing a jack type connector receptacle of the type comprising a housing having a plug-receiving end and a plug-receiving opening extending into the plug-receiving end. The housing is manufactured as a one piece molding having a single conductor-receiving opening extending therethrough from the rearward end to the plug-receiving end. The conductors are produced as stamped and formed conductors extending from a carrier strip. Conductors are assembled to the housing by severing a section of the strip having a group of side-by-side conductors extending therefrom, inserting the conductors through the opening from the rearward end of the housing, and bending the projecting ends of the conductors into the plug-receiving opening. The rearward end of the conductors are bent laterally so that they can be inserted into openings in a printed circuit board.

Method of manufacturing electrical connector receptacle

Electrical connector receptacle comprises an insulating housing having a rearward end, a plug-receiving end, and a plug-receiving opening extending through the housing and between the ends. A plurality of side-by-side stamped and formed conductors are mounted in the housing with intermediate portions of the conductors extending through a conductor-receiving opening which is parallel to the plug-receiving opening. First end portions of these conductors are reversely bent at the plug-receiving end and extend obliquely into the plug-receiving opening. Second end portions of the conductors extend beyond the rearward end of the housing and across an apron which is integral with the housing. This apron has conductor positioning and retaining means thereon for retaining the conductors in spaced-apart predetermined locations and for securing the conductors to the housing. An improved manufacturing method is disclosed in which all of the conductors are assembled to the housing simultaneously.

Electrical connector receptacles

Circuit film strip comprises a continuous strip of plastic film having a repetitive pattern of conductors thereon and indexing holes along its side edges. The indexing holes comprise a layer of metal on the film which extends over a punched hole in the film. The metal layer has an etched hole therein which is produced by the same printing and etching process as is employed to produce the conductors so that the etched holes are precisely located with reference to the conductors.

Circuit film strip and manufacturing method

An electrical connector housing for securing an electrical terminal in a passageway thereof, the passageway includes a first stop means integrally formed from a first area of the passageway and against which a section of the terminal engages to limit movement of the terminal in one direction in the passageway and a second stop means integrally formed from a second area of the passageway and being spaced from the first stop means, the second stop means defining stiffly-flexible means provided with free end means engageable with another section of the terminal thereby limiting movement of the terminal in another direction in the passageway.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Robert J Kobler