High power connector

• US 5,249,978 A
• Filed: 07/15/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stark, Richard L., Strnatka, Louis R., Gazda, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/914,811
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 439/246-252
• US Class Current: 439/246
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A multiple terminal connector capable of self alignment and blind plugging. The connector has high current and high voltage capabilities and allows flexibility in the positioning of connectors on a chassis since large amounts of misalignments can be tolerated. Spring means bias terminal stabs towards a central position while allowing lateral float to accommodate misalignment.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a housing including a connector body defining a recess portion having a central aperture extending therethrough, a nose plate having a shroud, said nose plate defining an opening surrounded by said shroud, said shroud extending away from said housing, and a cover plate, said cover plate and nose plate secured to opposite sides of said connector body, with said aperture in said connector body and said nose plate opening aligned with one another, said nose plate covering a portion of said recess and thus creating a cavity in said housing;

a terminal having a base and a stab portion extending from said base, said base slidably mounted in said cavity, with said stab portion extending through said opening; and

spring means for biasing said stab portion to a central position in said opening.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of terminals and said cover plate having at least one terminal isolation barrier to separate said terminals from one another in the interior of the housing.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a band of spring material mounted at one point along the band to said base of said terminal and at an opposite point along said band to said housing, said band biasing said stab portion to a central position in said opening.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein said band comprises an electrically conductive material for providing an electrical connection to said terminal.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein the cross section of said band is generally circular.

6. The connector of claim 4 wherein the cross section of said band is generally flat.

7. A multi-terminal connector for coupling to connectors mounted on bus bars comprising:

a housing defining a plurality of cavities therein, each having a central portion with an opening to the exterior of said housing, said housing further including key tabs and key slots;

a plurality of terminals each having a base and a stab portion extending from said base, each of said bases slidably mounted in a corresponding one of said cavities with said stab portions extending through said openings, said stab portions being staggered diagonally relative to one another, said key tabs and key slots of said housing permitting stacking of housings thereby staggering terminals of the stacked housings; and

spring means for biasing each of said stab portions to a central position in its respective said opening away from the perimeter of the opening.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises a pair of springs situated on either side of said terminal, biasing said stab portion to a central position in said opening.

9. The connector of claim 7 wherein at least one of said terminals further comprises ear portions extending perpendicularly in opposite directions from said stab portion with said terminal having the general shape of a cross.

10. The connector of claim 7 wherein said housing further includes a plurality of shrouds, spaced away from and circumferentially surrounding a respective one of said stab portions, said shrouds extending away from said housing.

11. The connector of claim 7 wherein said housing comprises a connector body defining a plurality of recesses each having a central aperture extending therethrough, a nose plate having a plurality of shrouds extending away from said housing, said nose plate defining a plurality of openings each surrounded by respective one of said shrouds, and a cover plate having at least one terminal isolation barrier to separate said terminals from one another in the interior of the housing, said cover plate and said nose plate secured to opposite sides of said connector body, with said apertures in said connector body and said nose plate openings aligned with one another, said nose plate covering a portion of each of said recesses creating a plurality of cavities, said housing being adapted to being affixed to a structure.

12. The connector of claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises a band of spring material mounted at one point along the band to said base of said terminal and at an opposite point along said band to said housing, said band biasing said stab portion to a central position in said opening.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein said band comprises an electrically conductive material for providing an electrical connection to said terminal.

14. The connector of claim 13 wherein the cross section of said band is generally circular.

15. The connector of claim 13 wherein the cross section of said band is generally oval.