Kelvin connection mounting terminal

• US 10,516,221 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2018
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Grid Solutions, LLC (EBW, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Franklin Grid Solutions, LLC (EBW, Inc.)
• Inventors: Albrecht, Kenneth A., Garcia, Frank X., Matlapudi, Vijay, Loewe, Patrick K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Truc T
• Application Number:
  US16/111,656
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/18 Fastening by means of screw or nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A Kelvin connector assembly is provided that includes a body assembly, a first tab and a second tab. The body assembly comprises a first electrical contact surface electrically isolated from an opposing second electrical contact surface. The body assembly defines a central opening extending through the first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface that is dimensioned to receive a battery post. The first tab, which is electrically connected with the first electrical contact surface, extends from the body assembly and is configured to couple with a first quick-connect connector. The second tab, which is electrically connected with the second electrical contact surface, extends from the body assembly and is configured to couple with a second quick-connect connector.

Claims

1. A Kelvin connector assembly comprising:

a body assembly comprising a first electrical contact surface electrically isolated from an opposing second electrical contact surface, the body assembly defining a central opening extending through the first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface that is dimensioned to receive a battery post, wherein the central opening is dimensioned larger than a dimension of the battery post to prevent electrical connection therebetween;

a first tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a first quick-connect connector, wherein the first tab is electrically connected with the first electrical contact surface;

a second tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a second quick-connect connector, wherein the second tab is electrically connected with the second electrical contact surface; and

an insulator located between the first tab and the second tab, wherein the insulator has a central opening aligned with the central opening of the body assembly, wherein the central opening of the insulator has a smaller diameter dimension than the central opening of the body assembly to electrically isolate the inner surfaces of the body assembly from the bolt to enhance a Kelvin connection.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first tab is configured to couple with a quick-connect connector of a different configuration than the second tab.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the body assembly is substantially planar.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a third quick-connect connector, wherein the third tab is electrically connected with the first electrical contact surface.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the body assembly has substantially a ring-shape.

6. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the body assembly includes a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer separated by an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer is configured to electrically isolate the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer.

7. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first electrically conductive layer and/or the second electrically conductive layer include one or more clips to couple the first electrically conductive layer, the second electrically conductive layer and the insulating layer together.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the first electrically conductive layer forms at least a portion of the first electrical contact surface and the second electrically conductive layer forms at least a portion of the second electrical contact surface.

9. The connector assembly of claim 4, further comprising a fourth tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a fourth quick-connect connector, wherein the fourth tab is electrically connected with the second electrical contact surface.

10. A Kelvin connector assembly comprising:

a body assembly comprising a first electrical contact surface electrically isolated from an opposing second electrical contact surface, the body assembly defining a central opening extending through the first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface that is dimensioned to receive a battery post, wherein the first electrical contact surface is configured to make an electrical connection with a battery post base, and the second electrical contact surface is configured to make an electrical connection with the battery post for a proper Kelvin connection;

a first tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a first quick-connect connector, wherein the first tab is electrically connected with the first electrical contact surface;

a second tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a second quick-connect connector, wherein the second tab is electrically connected with the second electrical contact surface wherein a width of the first tab is different than a width of the second tab to key each of the tabs to a different quick-connect connector type; and

an insulator located between the first tab and the second tab.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the central opening is dimensioned larger than a dimension of the battery post to prevent electrical connection therebetween.

12. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the first tab is configured to couple with a quick-connect connector of a different configuration than the second tab.

13. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the body assembly is substantially planar.

14. The connector assembly of claim 10, further comprising a third tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a third quick-connect connector, wherein the third tab is electrically connected with the first electrical contact surface.

15. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the body assembly has substantially a ring-shape.

16. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the insulator has a central opening aligned with the central opening of the body assembly, wherein the central opening of the insulator has a smaller diameter dimension than the central opening of the body assembly to electrically isolate the inner surfaces of the body assembly from the bolt to enhance a Kelvin connection.

17. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the body assembly includes a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer separated by an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer is configured to electrically isolate the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer.

18. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the first electrically conductive layer and/or the second electrically conductive layer include one or more clips to couple the first electrically conductive layer, the second electrically conductive layer and the insulating layer together.

19. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the first electrically conductive layer forms at least a portion of the first electrical contact surface and the second electrically conductive layer forms at least a portion of the second electrical contact surface.

20. The connector assembly of claim 14, further comprising a fourth tab extending from the body assembly configured to couple with a fourth quick-connect connector, wherein the fourth tab is electrically connected with the second electrical contact surface.

21. A Kelvin connector assembly comprising:

a first terminal formed from an electrically conductive material;

a second terminal formed from an electrically conductive material;

an insulator configured to electrically separate the first terminal and the second terminal;

wherein the first terminal, the second terminal and the insulator include aligned openings to define a central opening that is dimensioned to receive a battery post, wherein a diameter of the opening of the insulator is smaller than the openings of the first terminal and the second terminal; and

wherein the first terminal and/or the second terminal include at least one tab configured to electrically couple with a quick-connect connector.

22. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the first terminal includes a body with a first surface configured to be an electrical contact surface for the first terminal and an opposing second surface adjacent the insulator.

23. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the second terminal includes a body with a first surface configured to be an electrical contact surface for the second terminal and an opposing second surface adjacent the insulator.

24. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the body of the first terminal and/or the second terminal includes one or more clips configured to couple the insulator, first terminal and second terminal together.

25. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein one or more clips of the first terminal and/or one the second terminal engage a peripheral edge of the insulator.

26. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein the body of the first terminal includes at least one cut-out portion annularly positioned corresponding with an annular position of at least one clip extending from the body of the second terminal and the body of the second terminal includes at least one cut-out portion annularly positioned corresponding with an annular position of at least one clip extending from the body of the first terminal.

27. A Kelvin connector assembly comprising:

a first terminal formed from an electrically conductive material;

a second terminal formed from an electrically conductive material;

an insulator configured to electrically separate the first terminal and the second terminal wherein a body of the first terminal and/or the second terminal includes one or more clips configured to couple the insulator, first terminal and second terminal together;

wherein the first terminal, the second terminal and the insulator include aligned openings to define a central opening that is dimensioned to receive a battery post; and

wherein the first terminal and/or the second terminal include at least one tab configured to electrically couple with a quick-connect connector;

wherein the first terminal includes one or more clips extending from the body in a first direction and the second terminal includes one or more clips extending from the body in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially in an opposite direction from the second direction.

28. The connector assembly of claim 27, wherein the insulator includes one or more grooves configured to receive one or more clips extending from the body of the first terminal and/or the second terminal.

29. The connector assembly of claim 28, wherein the one or more grooves of the insulator is annularly arranged corresponding with an annular position of the one or more clips extending from the body of the first terminal and/or the second terminal.