Shield housing for a separable connector

• US 7,854,620 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• 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: Roscizewski, Paul Michael, Hughes, David Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phuong
• Application Number:
  US12/341,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 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 13/035 Plated dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/921 Transformer bushing type or high voltage underground connector

Abstract

A separable connector shield housing includes a layer of conductive material disposed at least partially around a layer of non-conductive material. The layers are molded together. For example, the conductive material can be overmolded around the non-conductive material, or the non-conductive material can be insert molded within the conductive material. The molding results in an easy to manufacture, single-component shield housing with reduced potential for air gaps and electrical discharge. The shield housing defines a channel within which at least a portion of a contact tube may be received. A contact element is disposed within the contact tube. The conductive material substantially surrounds the contact element. The non-conductive material can extend along an entire length of the contact tube and other components, or it may only extend partially along the contact tube. The non-conductive material can include an integral nose piece disposed along a nose end of the contact tube.

Claims

1. A separable connector, comprising:

a bushing connector comprising

a contact tube comprising an arc-ablative material;

an electrical contact disposed substantially within the contact tube and configured to engage another electrical contact of a connector that mates with the bushing connector;

a shield housing surrounding at least a portion of the contact tube, the shield housing comprising

a non-conductive portion; and

a semi-conductive portion disposed around at least a section of the non-conductive portion, the non-conductive portion and the semi-conductive portion being molded together as a single component such that there are substantially no air gaps between the semi-conductive portion and the non-conductive portion,

an insulative housing surrounding at least a portion of the shield housing, the insulative housing comprising elastomeric insulation; and

an external shield comprising semi-conductive material that surrounds at least a portion of the insulative housing.

2. The separable connector of claim 1, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises at least one of a conductive material and a semi-conductive material.

3. The separable connector of claim 1, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises one of plastic and rubber.

4. The separable connector of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises one of plastic and rubber.

5. The separable connector of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises an insulating material.

6. The separable connector of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises a nose piece segment formed integrally thereon, the nose piece segment defining an end of the shield housing.

7. The separable connector of claim 6, wherein the nose piece segment is disposed on a mating end of the bushing connector.

8. The separable connector of claim 6, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing is not disposed around a substantial portion of the nose piece segment.

9. A separable connector, comprising:

a bushing connector comprising

a contact tube;

an electrical contact disposed substantially within the contact tube and configured to engage another electrical connector that mates with the bushing connector;

a shield housing surrounding at least a portion of the contact tube, the shield housing comprising

a non-conductive portion, and

a semi-conductive portion disposed around at least a section of the non-conductive portion, the non-conductive portion and the semi-conductive portion being molded together as a single component, the semi-conductive portion electrically coupled to the electrical contact and providing a substantially equal potential shield around the electrical contact;

an insulative housing surrounding at least a portion of the shield housing, the insulative housing comprising elastomeric insulation; and

an external shield comprising semi-conductive material that surrounds at least a portion of the insulative housing.

10. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises at least one of a conductive material and a semi-conductive material.

11. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises one of plastic and rubber.

12. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises one of plastic and rubber.

13. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises an insulating material.

14. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing is disposed around the contact element.

15. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing is not disposed around the contact element.

16. The separable connector of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive portion of the shield housing comprises a nose piece segment formed integrally thereon, the nose piece segment defining a mating end of the shield housing.

17. The separable connector of claim 16, wherein the nose piece segment is disposed on a mating end of the bushing connector.

18. The separable connector of claim 16, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing is not disposed around a substantial portion of the nose piece segment.

19. A separable connector, comprising:

a bushing connector comprising

a contact tube comprising an arc-ablative material;

an electrical contact disposed substantially within the contact tube and configured to engage another electrical contact of a connector that mates with the bushing connector;

a shield housing surrounding at least a portion of the contact tube, the shield housing comprising

a non-conductive portion comprising an integral nose piece that defines an end of the shield housing, and

a semi-conductive portion disposed around at least a section of the non-conductive portion, the non-conductive portion and the semi-conductive portion being molded together as a single component such that there are substantially no air gaps between the semi-conductive portion and the non-conductive portion, the semi-conductive portion electrically coupled to the electrical contact and providing a substantially equal potential shield around the electrical contact;

an insulative housing surrounding at least a portion of the shield housing, the insulative housing comprising elastomeric insulation; and

an external shield comprising semi-conductive material that surrounds at least a portion of the insulative housing.

20. The separable connector of claim 19, wherein the semi-conductive portion of the shield housing is not disposed around a substantial portion of the integral nose piece.