Electrical connector assembly, especially for electric vehicle
First Claim
1. An electrical connector inlet assembly, comprising:
- an inlet housing with an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with a first set of electrical contacts therein;
a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging the first set of electrical contacts housed in the mating electrical connector;
an inlet contact cover movably coupled to said inlet housing for concealing said second set of electrical contacts from said inlet cavity when said second set of electrical contacts are in said retracted position, and for exposing said second set of electrical contacts to said inlet cavity when said second set of electrical contacts are in said extended position;
an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of contacts between said retracted position and said extended position, said actuation mechanism further being operatively coupled to said contact cover for moving said contact cover between a closed position to conceal said second set of contacts and an open position to expose said second set of electrical contacts; and
a shield coupled to said inlet housing for covering a portion of the inlet cavity and the mating connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly 10 for transmitting electrical energy, and especially designed for use with electric vehicles. The electrical connector assembly 10 includes an electrical connector or plug 16 with electrical contacts, such as tubular brush contacts 34 and an electrical connector inlet assembly or receptacle 20 with mating electrical contacts such as contact pins 409. The plug has a cover 50 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. Likewise, the receptacle has a cover 460 for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts. The receptacle also has a retractable hood or weathershield 510 movably coupled thereto between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, hood 510 partially covers plug 16. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are either automatically or manually uncovered only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle. The plug 16 can be provided with one or more sensors 119 (magnets), and receptacle 20 can also be provided with one or more sensors 358 (reed switches) which cooperate with sensors 119 to sense the absence or incorrect positioning of plug 16 in receptacle 20. The sensors 119 and 358 also interact to activate a microprocessor 24 to determine compatibility of power between plug 16 and receptacle 20.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. An electrical connector inlet assembly, comprising:
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an inlet housing with an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with a first set of electrical contacts therein; a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging the first set of electrical contacts housed in the mating electrical connector; an inlet contact cover movably coupled to said inlet housing for concealing said second set of electrical contacts from said inlet cavity when said second set of electrical contacts are in said retracted position, and for exposing said second set of electrical contacts to said inlet cavity when said second set of electrical contacts are in said extended position; an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of contacts between said retracted position and said extended position, said actuation mechanism further being operatively coupled to said contact cover for moving said contact cover between a closed position to conceal said second set of contacts and an open position to expose said second set of electrical contacts; and a shield coupled to said inlet housing for covering a portion of the inlet cavity and the mating connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
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an electrical connector with a first set contacts electrically coupled to a power source; an inlet housing with an inlet cavity for receiving said electrical connector with said first set of electrical contacts therein; a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging said first set of electrical contacts housed in said electrical connector; an inlet contact cover movably coupled to said inlet housing for concealing said second set of electrical contacts from said inlet cavity when said second set of electrical contacts are in said retracted position, and for exposing said second set of electrical contacts to said inlet cavity when said second set of electrical contacts are in said extended position; an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of contacts between said retracted position and said extended position, said actuation mechanism further being operatively coupled to said contact cover for moving said contact cover between a closed position to conceal said second set of contacts and an open position to expose said second set of electrical contacts; and a shield coupled to said inlet housing for covering a portion of said inlet cavity and said electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An electrical connector inlet assembly, comprising:
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an inlet housing having first power transferring means therein and an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with second power transferring means therein, said first power transferring means including a first set of electrically conductive contacts positioned adjacent said inlet cavity; a weathershield movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position unobstructing said inlet cavity and an extended position partially covering said inlet cavity and a portion of the mating electrical connector positioned in said inlet cavity; an inlet contact cover movably coupled to said inlet housing for concealing said first set of contacts from said inlet cavity and for exposing said first set of contacts to said inlet cavity; and an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said first set of contacts for moving said first set of contacts between a retracted position withdrawn from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An electrical connector inlet assembly, comprising:
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an inlet housing having first power transferring means therein and an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with second power transferring means therein; a weathershield movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position unobstructing said inlet cavity and an extended position partially covering said inlet cavity and a portion of the mating electrical connector positioned in said inlet cavity; and a locking mechanism coupled to said inlet housing for retaining said weathershield in a retracted position, said locking mechanism including a sensor for detecting the presence of the mating connector in said inlet cavity to unlock said weathershield for movement, a movable latch coupled to said inlet housing for engaging a plurality of locking teeth of a stop surface formed on said weathershield, and an electromagnet positioned adjacent said latch for disengaging said latch from said locking teeth, said electromagnet being electrically coupled to said sensor, said latch being normally biased against one of said locking teeth, and each of said locking teeth including an inclined surface for allowing said weathershield to move rearwardly from said extended position to said retracted position against said latch.
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57. An electrical connector inlet assembly, comprising:
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an inlet housing having first power transferring means therein and an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with second power transferring means therein; a weathershield movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position unobstructing said inlet cavity and an extended position partially covering said inlet cavity and a portion of the mating electrical connector positioned in said inlet cavity; and a locking mechanism coupled to said inlet housing for retaining said weathershield in a retracted position, said locking mechanism including a sensor for detecting the presence of the mating connector in said inlet cavity to unlock said weathershield for movement and a latch with a tab extending into said inlet cavity for engaging the mating electrical connector to unlock said weathershield.
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58. An electrical connector inlet assembly, comprising:
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an inlet housing having first power transferring means therein, a pair of side walls and an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with second power transferring means therein; a weathershield movably coupled to said inlet housing for movement between a retracted position unobstructing said inlet cavity and an extended position partially covering said inlet cavity and a portion of the mating electrical connector positioned in said inlet cavity; and an outer support member coupled to said inlet housing for supporting said inlet housing with at least a portion of said weathershield being located between said inlet housing and said support member when in said retracted position, said pair of side walls of said inlet housing being located between said inlet cavity and said outer support member, and said weathershield being movably coupled to said side walls.
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Specification