ELECTRICAL TERMINAL WITH SELF-CHECKING INSTALLATION CONFIRMATION FEATURE

• US 20170250477A1
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: DINICH, SCOTT B., BREDDY, JOEL R.
• Application Number:
  US15/053,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/302 having means for preventing loosening of screw or nut, e.g. vibration-proof connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/304 having means for improving contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

An electrical terminal, a corresponding electrical assembly, and a related installation method are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment of the electrical assembly includes an electrically conductive threaded mounting post, a threaded fastener that mates with the mounting post, and a terminal for an electrical conductor. The terminal has a deformable feature that compresses when the fastener is installed to clamp the terminal between a contact surface of the mounting post and the fastener. The deformable feature has mechanical properties and characteristics such that torque required to compress the deformable feature increases during installation of the fastener.

Claims

1. A terminal for an electrical conductor, the terminal comprising:

a primary base structure formed of an electrically conductive material, the primary base structure comprising a coupling feature to receive a mounting post; and

a deformable feature extending above the primary base structure and compressible in response to installation of a fastener that clamps the terminal between a shoulder of the mounting post and the fastener, the deformable feature having mechanical properties and characteristics such that force required to compress the deformable feature varies as a function of height of the deformable feature.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the deformable feature comprises a tab integrally formed in the primary base structure.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the deformable feature comprises texturing integrally formed in the primary base structure.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the deformable feature comprises a bendable element of the primary base structure.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the primary base structure comprises an eyelet structure.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the primary base structure comprises a prong or spade structure.

7. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the deformable feature has mechanical properties and characteristics such that force required to compress the deformable feature increases as height of the deformable feature decreases.

8. The terminal of claim 1, wherein force required to compress the deformable feature is applied by threading the fastener onto the mounting post.

9. An electrical assembly comprising:

an electrically conductive threaded mounting post comprising a contact surface;

a threaded fastener that mates with the threaded mounting post; and

a terminal for an electrical conductor, the terminal comprising a deformable feature that compresses when the threaded fastener is installed to clamp the terminal between the contact surface and the threaded fastener, the deformable feature having mechanical properties and characteristics such that torque required to compress the deformable feature increases during installation of the threaded fastener.

10. The electrical assembly of claim 9, wherein the deformable feature comprises a tab that extends above a primary contact surface of the terminal.

11. The electrical assembly of claim 9, wherein the deformable feature comprises textured features that extend above a primary contact surface of the terminal.

12. The electrical assembly of claim 9, wherein the terminal comprises a primary contact surface that is contoured to exhibit deformable characteristics.

13. The electrical assembly of claim 9, wherein the terminal comprises an eyelet structure.

14. The electrical assembly of claim 9, wherein the terminal comprises a prong or spade structure.

15. The electrical assembly of claim 9, further comprising a torque measurement tool coupled to the threaded fastener during installation of the threaded fastener onto the threaded mounting post, wherein output of the torque measurement tool indicates whether or not the terminal is present between the contact surface and the fastener during installation of the threaded fastener onto the threaded mounting post.

16. A method of checking an installation of a terminal for an electrical conductor on an electrically conductive threaded mounting post having a contact surface for the terminal, the method comprising:

coupling the terminal to the threaded mounting post, the terminal comprising a deformable feature that compresses when a threaded fastener is installed to clamp the terminal between the contact surface and the threaded fastener, the deformable feature having mechanical properties and characteristics such that torque required to tighten the threaded fastener increases as the deformable feature compresses;

installing the threaded fastener onto the threaded mounting post and overlying the terminal;

measuring, with a computer-based torque measurement tool, torque associated with installation of the threaded fastener onto the threaded mounting post until a final torque value is reached, the final torque value representing a tightened state; and

analyzing, with the computer-based torque measurement tool, the measured torque to confirm presence of the terminal between the threaded fastener and the contact surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the analyzing comprises:

comparing the measured torque against a torque profile.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating an output that indicates proper installation when the measured torque is consistent with the torque profile; and

generating an output that indicates potentially improper installation when the measured torque is inconsistent with the torque profile.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating an alarm when the measured torque is inconsistent with the torque profile.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein installing the threaded fastener onto the threaded mounting post destructively deforms the terminal.