Annular electrical connector assembly

• US 6,406,307 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sellnau, Mark C., Bungo, Edward M., Corso, Anthony Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/785,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 439/125, 439/130, 439/913, 439/248, 731/15, 731/19.R, 737/56, 123/635
• US Class Current: 439/130
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/53 Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases for high voltage with means for preventing corona or arcing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6485 Electrostatic discharge protection in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/05 combined with interference suppressing or shielding means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/913 Condition determining device, e.g. oxygen sensor, accelerometer, ionizer chamber, thermocouple

Abstract

Multiple annular electrical connectors are each positioned floatably through a respective aperture of a tray. A shield plate is secured over the tray by bolts which thread into a cylinder head. The shield plate has holes centered above the apertures for access to spark plugs disposed below. Each annular electrical connector is centered about an annular pressure sensing device which encompasses the spark plug. The inboard side of the electrical connector is in electrical contact with the outboard side of the sensing device beneath the tray. Insulated wires extend between the tray and shield plate from each electrical connector and connect to a common panel mounted electrical connector at one end of the tray.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly for an electrical device, the electrical connector assembly comprising:

a tray having a plurality of apertures, each aperture having a centerline, the centerline perpendicular to the tray;

an electrical connector centered through each aperture and disposed radially outward from the electrical device, the electrical connector having a housing having an upper portion engaged to the tray, an upper seal adapted to be resiliently engaged radially between the electrical device and the upper portion of the housing, and a terminal disposed below the upper portion of the housing, the terminal adapted to be in electrical contact with the electrical device;

the housing having a lower portion located below the upper portion and concentric about the center line, the terminal disposed substantially between the upper and lower portions; and

a lower seal resiliently disposed radially between the electrical device and the lower portion of the housing.

2. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a shield plate having a plurality of holes concentrically located over the plurality of apertures of the tray.

3. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising:

the tray having a shoulder circumscribing each aperture;

the upper portion of the housing having a flange extending radially outward, the flange engaged to the shoulder from above, the housing capable of radial movement within the aperture while being held axially fixed prior to assembly of the shield plate; and

the upper seal having an annular flange extending radially outward, the annular flange resiliently disposed between the housing flange and the shield plate.

4. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 3 further comprising:

the shoulder of the tray having a sleeve and a segmented ledge, the sleeve extended upward from the tray, the segmented ledge extended radially inward and rigidly attached to the inboard side of the sleeve, the segmented ledge having at least one forward stop portion and at least one rearward stop portion positioned circumferentially about the aperture; and

the flange of the housing being segmented, the segmented flange having at least one locking member having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end contacts the forward stop portion of the segmented ledge to limit clockwise rotation of the housing within the aperture and the trailing end contacts the rearward stop portion to limit counterclockwise rotation of the housing within the aperture.

5. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 4 further comprising:

the forward stop portion of the segmented ledge having a ramp and a forward stop edge, the ramp sloped downward in the forward clockwise direction and attached rigidly to the sleeve, the forward stop edge positioned forward of the ramp by a first length, the first length coplanar with the shoulder;

the rearward stop portion of the segmented ledge having a arm, the arm extended circumferentially forward about the aperture, the arm positioned inboard of and perpendicular to the sleeve;

the leading end of the locking member of the segmented flange having a depressed shelf and a vertical member, the depressed shelf disposed axially below the forward stop edge, the depressed shelf coplanar with the shoulder, the depressed shelf having a second length wherein the second length is less than the first length, the vertical member disposed axially, connecting the segmented flange to the depressed shelf;

the trailing end of the locking member having an extension projected downward from the segmented flange, the arm in resilient contact with the extension during the downward clockwise rotation of the housing to the tray, the arm positioned coplanar to the shoulder when the extension is forward of the arm and the depressed shelf is below the forward stop edge;

a third length defined as the circumferential distance between the arm and the extension when the housing is rotated fully clockwise; and

a fourth length defined as the circumferential distance between the ramp and the vertical member when the housing is rotated fully clockwise, the fourth length greater than the third length.

6. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the ramp is further supported by a support member extended radially inward from the sleeve, the support member positioned below and attached to the ramp.

7. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the terminal has a ring and at least one tab, the ring encased radially between the upper and lower portions of the housing, the at least one tab extended radially inward and upward from the ring, the at least one tab disposed between the upper seal and the electrical device, the at least one tab held resiliently against the electrical device by the upper seal.

8. An electrical connector assembly for an electrical device having a leading edge, an upper bonnet, a contact ring having a plurality of protrusions, and a lower bonnet, the electrical connector assembly comprising:

a tray having a plurality of apertures, each aperture having a centerline perpendicular to the tray;

an electrical connector disposed through each aperture, the electrical connector having;

a housing engaged to the tray, the housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions concentric about the centerline of the aperture,

an upper seal resiliently disposed radially between the upper bonnet of the electrical device and the upper portion of the housing,

a lower seal resiliently disposed radially between the lower bonnet of the electrical device and the lower portion of the housing, and

a terminal having a ring and at least one tab, the ring disposed axially between the upper and lower portions of the housing, the at least one tab extended radially inward and upward from the ring, the at least one tab disposed between the upper seal and the plurality of protrusions of the contact ring, the at least one tab held resiliently against the protrusions by the upper seal;

a shield plate having a plurality of holes concentrically located about the centerline over the plurality of apertures of the tray; and

a panel mounted connector snap fitted to the tray and in electrical contact with each terminal.

9. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the terminal has a crimp tab and a lead wire, the crimp tab projecting radially outward from the ring, the lead wire in electrical contact between the crimp tab and the panel mounted connector.

10. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

the housing having a davit, the davit extended radially outward and axially from the terminal through the tray, the lead wire encased by the davit up through the tray; and

the tray having a key slot, the davit extended through the key slot, the lead wire exposed through the davit above the tray, each lead wire in electrical contact with the panel mounted connector.

11. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the davit is formed integrally into a male connector positioned above the tray and below the shield plate, the lead wire exposed within the male connector.

12. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the electrical contact with the panel mounted connector is completed by a female connector snap fitted to the male connector, the female connector having an insulated wire, the insulated wire extended away from the female connector and into the panel mounted connector.

13. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein the tray has a plurality of paired nubbins projected upwardly, the insulated wires snap fitted to the paired nubbins.

14. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the shield plate has a plurality of cuffs defining the plurality of holes, the cuffs extended downward and concentrically located over the plurality of apertures of the tray, each cuff disposed radially inboard of the upper seal.

15. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein the shield plate has a plurality of bolts, each bolt having a bushing, the plurality of bolts positioned intermittent to the plurality of holes of the shield plate, the shield plate, the bushings, and the tray penetrated by the bolts, the bushings located between the shield plate and the tray, the bolts threaded into a cylinder head of an engine.

16. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

the upper seal having at least one rib engaged circumferentially resiliently about the upper bonnet, the at least one rib axially disposed above the at least one tab; and

the lower seal having at least one lip engaged circumferentially resiliently about the lower bonnet, the diameter of the upper bonnet being less than the diameter of the lower bonnet.

17. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

the tray having a shoulder circumscribing each aperture;

the upper portion of the housing having a flange extended radially outward, the flange engaged to the shoulder from above, the housing capable of radial movement within the aperture while being axially fixed prior to assembly of the shield plate; and

the upper seal having an annular flange disposed above the at least one rib, the annular flange extended radially outward, the annular flange disposed resiliently between the housing flange and the shield plate.

18. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein the upper seal has an inner annular surface positioned below the annular flange and above the at least one rib, the leading edge of the electrical device engaged resiliently to the inner annular surface.

19. The electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the housing are plastic and co-molded about the terminal, and the upper seal and lower seal are silicone and co-molded in the same molding operation with the housing.

20. An electrical connector assembly for an electrical device, the electrical connector assembly comprising:

a tray having a plurality of apertures, each aperture having a centerline, the centerline perpendicular to the tray;

an electrical connector centered through each aperture and disposed radially outward from the electrical device, the electrical connector having a housing having an upper portion engaged to the tray, an upper seal adapted to be resiliently engaged radially between the electrical device and the upper portion of the housing, and a terminal disposed below the upper portion of the housing, the terminal adapted to be in electrical contact with the electrical device; and

the terminal having a ring and a tab, the ring disposed axially below the upper portion, the tab extended radially inward and upward from the ring, the tab disposed radially between the upper seal and the electrical device, the tab held resiliently against the electrical device by the upper seal.