Electrical power connector

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising a dielectric body including a housing having therein an open-ended cavity with an opposing closed end formed of a contact support wall of the housing. The wall has extended through its thickness a plurality of laterally spaced holes which communicate with respective aligned channels in the outer surface of the wall. Each of the through-holes has a defining surface from which protrudes integrally a ripple-like projection extending linearly from adjacent the outer surface of the wall toward the cavity. Each of the channels has opposing side surfaces from which protrude integrally respective ripple-like projections having spaced opposing crest portions. The holes are dimensioned for having press-fitted therein contact engaging arms of respective right-angle contact members which compress the respective ripple-like projections in the holes and are pressed against respective opposing surfaces thereof. The channels are dimensioned for having press-fitted therein channel engaging arms of the respective contact members which shave off the opposing crest portions of the respective ripple-like projections therein. The crest portion shavings are deposited in respective trough-like slots in the bottom surfaces of the respective channels to allow the respective channel engaging arm to bottom therein. The dielectric body includes a plate-like cover which is fitted over the channels and holes, and fixedly attached to the outer surface of the connector wall.