Self-locking wire terminal and shape memory wire termination system

• US 7,491,101 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pancon Illinois LLC, Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Turek, James A., Irish, Kenneth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US11/122,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 439/287, 439/740, 439/816, 439/861, 439/853, 439/835, 439/161
• US Class Current: 439/853
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/323 making use of shape memory materials in thermal relays H01H61/0107; release mechanism H01H71/145; treatment of SMF alloys C22F1/006; for control of temperature G05D23/024
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/0107 making use of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/145 using shape memory materials H01H71/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/22 End pieces terminating in a spring clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/515 Terminal blocks providing connections to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/58 terminals for insertion into holes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/40 Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/01 Connections using shape memory materials, e.g. shape memory metal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/188 having an uneven wire-receiving surface to improve the contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49151 by deforming or shaping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49185 of terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5137 including assembling or disassembling station

Abstract

A self-locking wire terminal assembly and a shape memory wire termination system includes an electrical terminal constructed with spring legs which provide two opposing points of contact on a mating electrical conductive pin. The points of contact prevent the pin from being removed. The shape memory termination system is formed by electrically coupling a clip assembly to shape memory wire and to an electrical source. In one embodiment, the shape memory wire causes an actuator to activate when the shape memory wire dissipates electrical power. The terminal assemblies may be manufactured by assembling wire with conduction pads onto a continuous reel. The terminal assemblies may be formed from the reel by trimming wire and linkages between the conduction pads.

Claims

1. A wire terminal system comprising:

a housing defining at least one support post, the at least one support post having a recessed portion;

a contact clip defining at least one retaining tab, the contact clip mounted to the at least one support post by engagement of the at least one retaining tab with the recessed portion, the contact clip defining flexible contact fingers and a crimping portion;

a conduction pad coupled to the contact fingers;

a shape memory wire coupled to the conduction pad; and

an actuator coupled to the shape memory wire.

2. The wire terminal system of claim 1, wherein the

conduction pad defines an opening extending though the conduction pad and defines a first spring leg and a second spring leg both integrally formed with the conduction pad, the first spring leg defining a first contact surface and a second spring leg defining a second contact surface, the first and second spring legs capable of deflecting upwardly away from the first surface of the contact pad and downwardly toward the first surface of the contact pad, the first and second contact surfaces being positioned around the opening and defining a gap, the first and second spring legs configured such that a force exerted upwardly on the conduction pad causes the first and second spring legs to deflect to decrease the gap.

3. The wire terminal system of claim 2 wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are opposing contact surfaces for cooperatively engaging a conductive pin.

4. The wire terminal system of claim 3, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface define a gap between the first and second contact surfaces, and wherein the conductive pin is positioned in the gap and held in place by the first and second contact surfaces.

5. The wire terminal system of claim 4, wherein the first and second spring legs deflect when the conductive pin is inserted into the opening.

6. The wire terminal system of claim 4, wherein the conductive pin defines a diameter and the gap defines a length, and wherein the diameter of the conductive pin is greater than the gap length.

7. The wire terminal system of claim 2, wherein the first and second contact surfaces define a v-shaped notch.

8. The wire terminal system of claim 2, wherein the shape memory wire defines a first end and a second end.

9. The wire terminal system of claim 8, wherein one conduction pad is coupled to the first end of the shape memory wire and wherein a second conduction pad is coupled to the second end of the shape memory wire.

10. The wire terminal system of claim 1, wherein the conduction pad includes a crimping portion for coupling the shape memory wire to the conduction pad.

11. The wire terminal system of claim 1, further comprising a conductive wire coupled to the crimping portion of the contact clip, wherein an electrical path is formed by the conductive wire, the contact clip, the contact fingers, the conduction pad, and the shape memory wire.

12. The wire terminal system of claim 1, wherein the contact clip defines at least one retaining tab that mounts to the at least one support post.

13. The wire terminal system of claim 1, wherein the contact clip defines mounting legs for coupling to a printed circuit board.

14. The wire terminal system of claim 1, wherein the contact clip defines a first retaining tab that mounts to the at least one support post, and a second retaining tab that secures the conduction pad to the contact fingers.