Screwless connector for use within a thermocouple sensor or probe arrangement

• US 20050112945A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Martin Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Martin Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Park, Richard, Tymkewicz, Allen, Kloock, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/989,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20050112945A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/620.210
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/023 provided with specially adapted connectors connectors per se H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/04 Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/50 utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw

Abstract

In one example, a thermocouple connector arrangement that includes a first connector configured to have a probe lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive a terminus of the probe lead, and a second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive a terminus of the lead. The connectors include mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path between the probe lead and the electrical lead. At least one of the first and second connectors includes housing parts that mate in a snap-lock arrangement. The one connector includes structure that engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal during the mating of the housing parts and without the use of a threaded fastener. In one example, at least one mating part is twisted into a helix.

Claims

1. A thermocouple connector arrangement including:

a first connector configured to have a thermocouple probe lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive an electrical connection terminus of the thermocouple probe lead; and

a second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive a terminus of the electrical connection lead;

the first and second connectors include electrically conductive mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path between the thermocouple probe lead and the electrical connection lead; and

at least one of the first and second connectors includes housing parts that mate in a snap-lock arrangement to secure the housing parts together and to enclose the respective interior, and the at least one of the first and second connectors includes structure that engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal during the mating of the housing parts and without the use of a threaded fastener.

2. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermocouple probe is elongate and rigid, and the first connector has structure to support the thermocouple probe in a static position relative to the first connector.

3. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical connection lead is elongate and flexible, and the second connector has structure to grasp the electrical connection lead.

4. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the snap-lock arrangement is not supplemented by use of a threaded fastener to secure the housing parts together.

5. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the snap-lock arrangement includes structure to resist separation of the housing parts subsequent to mating of the parts.

6. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein the snap-lock arrangement includes a sloped surface and a shoulder on one of the parts and a portion for sliding against the sloped surface during mating of the parts and resting against the shoulder upon completion of the mating of the parts.

7. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure includes at least one member against which a segment of the terminus is pressed and at least one member that presses the terminus.

8. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one member about which the segment of the terminus is pressed is a metal insert.

9. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one member about which the segment of the terminus is pressed is a metal prong.

10. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one member that presses the terminus is a spring member.

11. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the spring member is a metal spring clip.

12. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure includes at least one member about which a segment of the terminus is folded and at least one member that folds the terminus.

13. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure that engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal during the mating of the housing parts includes structure associated with each of the housing parts that mate.

14. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure that engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal during the mating of the housing parts includes at least one member against which a segment of the terminus is pressed is associated with one housing part and at least one member that presses the terminus is associated with another housing part.

15. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one mating part of one of the first and second connectors is a prong that includes a strip of conductive material twisted into a helix.

16. A thermocouple connector arrangement including:

a first connector configured to have a thermocouple probe lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive an electrical connection terminus of the thermocouple probe lead; and

a second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive a terminus of the electrical connection lead;

the first and second connectors include electrically conductive mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path between the thermocouple probe lead and the electrical connection lead; and

at least one of the first and second connectors includes housing parts that mate in a snap-lock arrangement to secure the housing parts together and to enclose the respective interior.

17. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein the thermocouple probe is elongate and rigid, and the first connector has structure to support the thermocouple probe in a static position relative to the first connector.

18. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein the electrical connection lead is elongate and flexible, and the second connector has structure to grasp the electrical connection lead.

19. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein the snap-lock arrangement is not supplemented by use of a threaded fastener to secure the housing parts together.

20. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein the snap-lock arrangement includes structure to resist separation of the housing parts subsequent to mating of the parts.

21. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 20, wherein the snap-lock arrangement includes a sloped surface and a shoulder on one of the parts and a portion for sliding against the sloped surface during mating of the parts and resting against the shoulder upon completion of the mating of the parts.

22. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors includes structure that engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal without the use of a threaded fastener.

23. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 22, wherein the structure includes at least one member against which a segment of the terminus is pressed and at least one member that presses the terminus.

24. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein the at least one member about which the segment of the terminus is pressed is a metal insert.

25. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein the at least one member about which the segment of the terminus is pressed is a metal prong.

26. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein the at least one member that presses the terminus is a spring member.

27. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least one mating part of one of the first and second connectors is a prong that includes a strip of conductive material twisted into a helix.

28. A thermocouple connector arrangement including:

a first connector configured to have a thermocouple probe lead extending therefrom, and having a portion configured to receive an electrical connection terminus of the thermocouple probe lead; and

a second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom, and configured to receive a terminus of the electrical connection lead;

the first and second connectors include electrically conductive mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path between the thermocouple probe lead and the electrical connection lead; and

at least one of the first and second connectors includes structure that engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal without the use of a threaded fastener.

29. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein the thermocouple probe is elongate and rigid, and the first connector has structure to support the thermocouple probe in a static position relative to the first connector.

30. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein the electrical connection lead is elongate and flexible, and the second connector has structure to grasp the electrical connection lead.

31. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein the structure includes at least one member against which a segment of the terminus is pressed and at least one member that presses the terminus.

32. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one member about which the segment of the terminus is pressed is a metal insert.

33. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one member about which the segment of the terminus is pressed is a metal prong.

34. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one member that presses the terminus is a spring member.

35. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors includes housing parts that mate in a snap-lock arrangement to secure the housing parts together and to enclose the respective interior.

36. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein at least one mating part of one of the first and second connectors is a prong that includes a strip of conductive material twisted into a helix.

37. A thermocouple connector arrangement including:

a first connector configured to have a thermocouple probe lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive an electrical connection terminus of the thermocouple probe lead; and

a second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive a terminus of the electrical connection lead;

the first and second connectors include electrically conductive mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path between the thermocouple probe lead and the electrical connection lead; and

at least one mating part of one of the first and second connectors is a prong that includes a strip of conductive material twisted into a helix.