Method of making universal electrical connector

• US 5,758,414 A
• Filed: 08/30/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Ehrenfels, Alfred L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arbes, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US08/704,873
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 29/857, 29/869, 439/310, 439/311
• US Class Current: 29/857
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/453 Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4534 Laterally sliding shutter
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 : Assembling terminal to elongated conductor

Abstract

A universal AC/DC electrical connector for selectively coupling either a mating direct electrical current (DC) electrical connector or a mating alternating electrical current (AC) electrical connector to selectively receive both direct electrical current (DC) and alternating electrical current (AC) therein. The AC/DC electrical connector has a pair of direct current contacts, a pair of alternating current contacts, and a ground contact. When DC electrical connector is coupled to the AC/DC electrical connector, the direct current contacts and the ground contact electrically engage corresponding electrical contacts of the DC electrical connector, while the alternating current contacts of the AC/DC electrical connector remains uncoupled, i.e., alternating current connects of the AC/DC electrical connector does not electrically engage the contacts of the DC electrical connector. When AC electrical connector is coupled to the AC/DC electrical connector, the alternating current contacts and the ground contacts of the AC/DC electrical connector engage corresponding electrical contacts of the AC electrical connector. The AC/DC electrical connector can also be provided with a sensor in the form of a pilot contact or reed switches for determining whether direct electrical current or alternating electrical current is being supplied thereto.

Claims

1. A method of selectively receiving direct electrical current from a DC electrical connector and alternating electrical current from an AC electrical connector, comprising the steps of

providing a universal AC/DC electrical connector with a housing for alternatively coupling with the DC electrical connector and the AC electrical connector;

providing the housing with a direct electrical current path for selectively receiving direct electrical current from the DC electrical connector; and

providing the housing with an alternating electrical current path for selectively receiving alternating electrical current from the AC electrical connector.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of

discriminating between the DC electrical connector and the AC electrical connector being coupled to the housing of the universal AC/DC electrical connector.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of

providing the housing with a grounding path for grounding the universal AC/DC electrical connector.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of

selectively covering and uncovering the direct electrical current path and the alternating electrical current path.