Thermoplastic interface and shield assembly for separable insulated connector system

• US 7,494,355 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Makal, John M., Heinig, Edine Mary, Hughes, David Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US11/676,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 439/181, 439/184, 439/183, 439/185, 439/921, 439/205
• US Class Current: 439/181
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/648 Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices , e.g. anti-static shielding coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/921 Transformer bushing type or high voltage underground connector

Abstract

A separable insulated connector assembly provided with a thermoplastic interface formed on a surface of a shield.

Claims

1. A separable insulated connector, comprising:

a conductive shield;

a contact element situated within the shield; and

an insulative housing interface member formed on the conductive shield, the housing interface member being fabricated from a thermoplastic material, the housing interface member defining an engagement surface for sliding engagement with a mating connector,

wherein the housing interface member extends interior to at least a portion of the shield.

2. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface is fabricated from a material having a low coefficient of friction.

3. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the interface member is adapted to eliminate air gaps proximate the shield.

4. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the shield includes a first portion having a first diameter, and a second portion having a second diameter.

5. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein a leading end of the shield is encased in the housing interface member.

6. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, further comprising an insulated elastomeric housing, a portion of the elastomeric housing in intimate contact with an exterior surface of the shield.

7. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the housing interface member comprises an indicating portion formed integrally with the housing interface member.

8. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the housing interface member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a hollow portion between the inner surface and the outer surface, the hollow portion filled with an elastomeric material.

9. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the housing interface member comprises a corrugated surface.

10. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, further comprising at least one directional vent configured to expel gases away from an insertion axis of the connector.

11. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the shield is overmolded with the housing interface member.

12. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises one of a shield housing and a contact tube.

13. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the housing interface member comprises at least one of polytetrafluroethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic rubber.

14. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, further comprising a contact tube situated within the shield and containing the contact element, the contact tube being slidable relative to the interface member.

15. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface comprises a conical bushing interface.

16. The separable insulated connector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a middle section, the middle section provided with a semi-conductive shield on an outer surface thereof.

17. The separable insulated connector of claim 16, wherein a first portion of the middle section is occupied by the housing interface member, and a second portion of the middle section is occupied by an elastomeric insulation.

18. The separable insulated connector of claim 16, further comprising at least one vent in the middle section.

19. A separable insulated connector for a medium voltage cable system in a power distribution system, the connector comprising:

a contact tube;

a conductive shield housing surrounding at least a portion of the contact tube; and

an insulative housing interface member fabricated from a thermoplastic material, the housing interface member defining an outer engagement surface for sliding engagement with a mating connector, and an inner surface receiving a portion of the contact tube,

wherein the housing interface member extends interior to at least a portion of the shield housing.

20. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein a leading end of the shield housing is encased in the housing interface member.

21. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the housing interface member eliminates air gaps proximate the shield housing.

22. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, further comprising an insulated elastomeric housing, a portion of the elastomeric housing in intimate contact with an exterior surface of the shield housing.

23. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the housing interface member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a hollow portion between the inner surface and the outer surface.

24. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein at least one directional vent extends between the housing interface member and the contact tube.

25. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the shield housing is overmolded with the housing interface member.

26. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the thermoplastic interface comprises at least one of polytetrafluroethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic rubber.

27. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the connector is a loadbreak connector.

28. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the outer engagement surface comprises a conical bushing interface.

29. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the engagement surface is fabricated from a material having a low coefficient of friction.

30. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the housing interface member comprises an indicating portion formed integrally with the housing interface member.

31. The separable insulated connector of claim 30, wherein the housing interface member comprises an interface shoulder and an interface surface, the indicating portion being situated proximate the interface shoulder.

32. The separable insulated connector of claim 19, wherein the connector comprises a middle section, the middle section provided with a semiconductive shield on an outer surface thereof.

33. The separable insulated connector of claim 32, wherein a first portion of the middle section is occupied by the housing interface member, and wherein a second portion of the middle section is occupied by an elastomeric insulation.

34. The separable insulated connector of claim 32, further comprising at least one vent in the middle section.

35. A separable insulated connector, comprising:

a conductive shield;

a contact element situated within the shield; and

an insulative housing interface member formed on the conductive shield, the housing interface member being fabricated from a thermoplastic material, the housing interface member defining an engagement surface for sliding engagement with a mating connector,

wherein the housing interface member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a hollow portion between the inner surface and the outer surface, the hollow portion filled with an elastomeric material.

36. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein the engagement surface is fabricated from a material having a low coefficient of friction.

37. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein the interface member is adapted to eliminate air gaps proximate the shield.

38. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein a leading end of the shield is encased in the housing interface member.

39. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, further comprising an insulated elastomeric housing, a portion of the elastomeric housing in intimate contact with an exterior surface of the shield.

40. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein the housing interface member comprises an indicating portion formed integrally with the housing interface member.

41. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein the housing interface member comprises a corrugated surface.

42. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein the housing interface member comprises at least one of polytetrafluroethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic rubber.

43. The separable insulated connector of claim 35, wherein the connector comprises a middle section, the middle section provided with a semi-conductive shield on an outer surface thereof.

44. The separable insulated connector of claim 43, wherein a first portion of the middle section is occupied by the housing interface member, and a second portion of the middle section is occupied by an elastomeric insulation.

45. The separable insulated connector of claim 43, further comprising at least one vent in the middle section.

46. A separable insulated connector, comprising:

a conductive shield;

a contact element situated within the shield; and

an insulative housing interface member formed on the conductive shield, the housing interface member being fabricated from a thermoplastic material, the housing interface member defining an engagement surface for sliding engagement with a mating connector,

wherein the housing interface member comprises a corrugated surface.

47. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein the engagement surface is fabricated from a material having a low coefficient of friction.

48. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein the interface member is adapted to eliminate air gaps proximate the shield.

49. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein a leading end of the shield is encased in the housing interface member.

50. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, further comprising an insulated elastomeric housing, a portion of the elastomeric housing in intimate contact with an exterior surface of the shield.

51. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein the housing interface member comprises an indicating portion formed integrally with the housing interface member.

52. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein the housing interface member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a hollow portion between the inner surface and the outer surface, the hollow portion filled with an elastomeric material.

53. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein the housing interface member comprises at least one of polytetrafluroethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic rubber.

54. The separable insulated connector of claim 46, wherein the connector comprises a middle section, the middle section provided with a semi-conductive shield on an outer surface thereof.

55. The separable insulated connector of claim 54, wherein a first portion of the middle section is occupied by the housing interface member, and a second portion of the middle section is occupied by an elastomeric insulation.

56. The separable insulated connector of claim 54, further comprising at least one vent in the middle section.