ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS WITH IMPROVED ELECTRICAL CONTACT PERFORMANCE

• US 20080254670A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Incorporated (Kaman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Incorporated (Kaman Corporation)
• Inventors: Sjostedt, Robbie J., Balsells, Peter J., Dilmaghanian, Farshid
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/286 having means for improving contact between battery post and clamping member, e.g. uneven interior surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/931 Conductive coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49222 forming array of contacts or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49224 with coating

Abstract

Electrical connectors are generally discussed herein having a housing having a bore and a groove having a canted coil spring positioned therein. A pin is inserted through the bore and is electrically connected with the canted coil spring. The canted coil spring may be coated with a noble metal and the housing and the pin may be made from non-noble metals.

Claims

1. An electrical connector with improved dynamic resistance comprising:

a housing having a bore and a groove having a canted coil spring positioned therein; and

a pin inserted through the bore and in electrical communication with the canted coil spring;

wherein the spring has an outer surface area made from a noble metal configured for contact with a non-noble metal surface area.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the non-noble metal surface area is on the pin or the groove of the housing.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the spring has an inner core made from a non-noble metal.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the non-noble metal is selected from at least one of platinum, iridium, rhodium, rhenium, ruthenium, palladium, and combinations thereof.

5. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the inner core is made from a nickel alloy or a stainless steel material.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the spring is a radial canted coil spring.

7. A method for manufacturing an electrical connector comprising:

providing a housing having a bore and a groove for receiving a canted coil spring;

coating a canted coil spring with a noble metal;

inserting the canted coil spring into the groove;

inserting a pin through the bore and the spring.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the noble metal is coated over a non-noble metal material.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the housing is made from a non-noble metal material.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the housing is made from at least two different housing sections.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the pin comprises a groove.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the noble metal is selected from at least one of platinum, iridium, rhodium, rhenium, ruthenium, palladium, and combinations thereof and the non-noble metal is selected from a nickel alloy metal or a stainless steel material.

13. A method for placing a noble metal between two non-noble metal surfaces of an electrical connector comprising:

providing a housing having a groove having a surface made from a non-noble metal;

placing a canted coil spring having an outer surface area made from a noble metal into the groove; and

placing a pin having an outer surface area made from a non-noble metal in contact with the canted coil spring.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the noble metal is selected from at least one of platinum, iridium, rhodium, rhenium, ruthenium, palladium, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the noble metal is coated over a non-noble metal core.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises two side walls, at least one of which made from a separately formed housing section.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the pin is part of a batter terminal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises an exterior surface in contact with a lead conductor.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the groove comprises a generally V-shape wall surface.