High voltage connector assembly

• US 7,419,397 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Casperson, Paul G., Dettman, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US11/598,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 439/108, 439/281, 439272-274, 439/279, 439/49, 439/76, 439/78, 439/283, 439/595, 439/598, 439/752
• US Class Current: 439/281
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• 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 13/6215 using one or more bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/24 Assembling by moulding on contact members

Abstract

An electrical connector for a high voltage application. The connector may include a plug housing having a plurality of plug openings and a header housing have a plurality of header openings. The plurality of header openings may be matable with a respective plug opening. A plurality of sockets are insertable into each respective plug opening. A plurality of pins may be operable to be received by a corresponding socket. The plug housing and sockets may be configured to maintain a seal with the plug housing connected to and disconnected from the header housing.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a plug housing having a plurality of plug openings;

a plurality of sockets, each inserted in a respective plug opening when the connector is assembled;

a header housing having a plurality of header openings, each header opening being mated with a respective plug opening when the header housing is connected to the plug housing;

a plurality of pins, each pin received by a corresponding socket when the connector is assembled, the header housing and pins maintaining a seal when the header housing is connected to and disconnected from an electrical system;

a socket seal arranged about a seal channel on the plurality of sockets;

a plurality of cables connected to a first end of the plurality of sockets when the connector is assembled;

a cable seal arranged about at least a portion of each of the plurality of cables and adjacent to each socket; and

the plug housing and sockets maintaining a sealing relationship when the plug housing is connected to and disconnected from the header housing.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

the header housing and pins maintaining a seal when the header housing is connected to and disconnected from the plug housing.

3. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a pin seal arranged about each of the plurality of pins.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pin openings is isolated from the other pin openings;

and

wherein each of the plurality of header openings is isolated from the other header openings.

5. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one seal located about at least one of the plurality of pin and socket openings on a mating face between the plug and header housings.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and header housings have an alignment guide.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein rotation and vertical movement of the pin in relation to the header housing is restricted when the pin is within the header housing.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein each pin is connected to the electrical system when the connector is assembled, the header housing and pins maintaining a seal with the header housing connected to and disconnected from the electrical system.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are molded into the associated header opening.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and header housings are molded.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of sockets and pins are molded into the associated plug and header housing.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sockets and pins are machined to restrict rotation and vertical movement in relation to the associated plug and header housing.

13. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one threaded stud extending through the plug and header housings, the at least one threaded stud having an integral nut with a first threaded portion extending from one side of the integral nut and a second threaded portion extending from an opposite side of the integral nut, the first threaded portion extending through the plug housing and the second threaded portion extending through the header housing.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the first threaded portion has a diameter greater than the second threaded portion.

15. A connector, comprising:

a plug housing having a plurality of plug openings, each plug opening being isolated from the other plug openings;

a plurality of sockets, each inserted in a respective plug opening when the connector is assembled;

a socket seal arranged about a seal channel on the plurality of sockets;

a plurality of cables connected to a first end of the plurality of sockets when the connector is assembled;

a cable seal arranged about at least a portion of each of a plurality of cables and adjacent to each socket;

a header housing having a plurality of header openings, each header opening being isolated from the other header openings, each header opening being mated with a respective plug opening when the header housing is connected to the plug housing;

a plurality of pins, each pin received by a corresponding socket when the connector is assembled;

the plug housing and sockets maintaining a sealed relationship when the plug housing is connected to and disconnected from the header housing; and

the header housing and pins maintaining a sealed relationship when the header housing is connected to and disconnected from the plug housing.