Low resistance insert

• US 9,653,194 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Fabian, David James, Debock, Kimberly, Klinger, Brian Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alonzo Miller, Rhadames J
• Application Number:
  US13/964,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20150041211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 174 74 R, 1741263, 174 94 R, 439817, 439927
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/064 the packing combining the sealing function with other functions
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/023 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/00 Non-insulated conductors or conductive bodies characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/06 Riveted connections by explosion H01R4/08
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/62 Connections between conductors of different materials; Connections between or with aluminium or steel-core aluminium conductors H01R4/68 takes precedence

Abstract

A conductive insert which provides a low resistance bond between low conductive materials. The insert includes a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. A plurality of openings extends between the first surface and the second surface. At least one first projection extends from the first surface proximate respective first openings, the at least one first projections extend from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface. At least one second projection extends from the second surface proximate respective second openings, the at least one second projections extend from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface.

Claims

1. A conductive insert which provides a low resistance bond between low conductive materials, the insert comprising:

a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface;

a plurality of openings extending between the first surface and the second surface;

multiple first triangular projections extending proximate each of respective first openings, the multiple first triangular projections extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert, the multiple first triangular projections of each of the respective first openings extending from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface, each of the multiple first triangular projections having a first fixed end and a first free end formed by two sides of the first triangular projection, the first free ends having first sharp edges or first points to provide first piercing surfaces which are moveable in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert to provide a wiping action on a first surface of the conductive material;

multiple second triangular projections extending proximate each of respective second openings, the multiple second triangular projections extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert, the multiple second triangular projections of each of the respective second openings extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface, each of the multiple second triangular projections having a second fixed end and a second free end formed by two sides of the second triangular projection, the second free ends having second sharp edges or second points to provide second piercing surfaces which are moveable in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert to provide a wiping action on a second surface of the conductive material;

wherein the insert provides a stable, low resistance electrically conductive path between the conductive materials.

2. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein three or more multiple projections are provided proximate each of the first openings, and three or more multiple second projections are provided proximate each of the second openings.

3. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the respective first openings are surrounding be respective second openings, whereby the multiple first projections alternate with the multiple second projections across the first surface and second surface.

4. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the insert is made from conductive material which has a conductivity equal to or higher than the conductivity of aluminum.

5. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the openings are selectively staggered.

6. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple first projections and the multiple second projections are disposed in a patterned relationship.

7. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are disposed along substantially the entire first surface and entire second surface.

8. The conductive insert as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one mounting opening extends through the first surface and the second surface of the insert, the mounting opening configured to cooperate with mounting hardware.

9. A conductive insert made from conductive material which has a conductivity equal to or higher than the conductivity of aluminum, the conductive insert provides a low resistance bond between conductive materials, the insert comprising:

a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface;

a plurality of openings extending between the first surface and the second surface;

first triangular projections extending proximate each of first openings, the first triangular projections extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert, the first triangular projections of each of the respective first openings extending from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface, each of the first triangular projections having a first fixed end and a first free end formed by two sides of the first triangular projection, the first free ends having first sharp edges or first points to provide first piercing surfaces which are moveable in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert to provide a wiping action on a first surface of the conductive material, the first sharp edges provide a piercing surface to enable the first triangular projections to penetrate any sealants or oxides which are present on the first surface of the conductive material;

second triangular projections extending proximate each of second openings, the second triangular projections extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert, the second triangular projections of each of the respective second openings extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface, each of the second triangular projections having a second fixed end and a second free end formed by two sides of the second triangular projection, the second free ends having second sharp edges or second points to provide second piercing surfaces which are moveable in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert to provide a wiping action on a second surface of the conductive material, the second sharp edges provide a piercing surface to enable the second triangular projections to penetrate any sealants or oxides which are present on the second surface of the conductive material;

at least one mounting opening extending through the first surface and the second surface, the mounting opening configured to cooperate with mounting hardware;

wherein the insert provides a stable, low resistance electrically conductive path between the conductive materials.

10. The conductive insert as recited in claim 9, wherein three or more first projections are provided proximate each respective first opening, and three or more second projections are provided proximate each respective second opening.

11. The conductive insert as recited in claim 10, wherein the respective first openings are surrounding be respective second openings, whereby the first projections alternate with the second projections across the first surface and second surface.

12. The conductive insert as recited in claim 9, wherein the openings are selectively staggered.

13. The conductive insert as recited in claim 9, wherein the first projections and the second projections are disposed in a patterned relationship.

14. The conductive insert as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of openings are disposed along substantially the entire first surface and entire second surface.

15. An assembly comprising:

a terminal;

a conductive surface;

a conductive insert made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the insert comprising;

a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface;

a plurality of openings extending between the first surface and the second surface;

first triangular projections extending from each of first openings, the first triangular projections extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert, the first projections of each of the respective first openings extending from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface, each of the first triangular projections having a first fixed end and a first free end formed by two sides of the first triangular projection, the first free ends having first sharp edges or first points to provide first piercing surfaces which are moveable in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert to provide a wiping action on a first surface of the conductive material;

second triangular projections extending from each of second openings, the second triangular projections extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert, the second projections of each of the respective second openings extending from the second surface in a direction away from the first surface, the second projections having a second fixed end and a second free end formed by two sides of the second triangular projection, the second free ends having second sharp edges or second points to provide second piercing surfaces which are moveable in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert to provide a wiping action on a second surface of the conductive material;

at least one mounting opening extending through the first surface and the second surface, the mounting opening configured to cooperate with mounting hardware;

wherein the first projections penetrate any sealants or oxides present on the terminal and the second projections penetrate any sealants or oxides present on the conductive surface, thereby providing a stable, low resistance electrically conductive path between the terminal and the conductive surface.

16. The conductive insert as recited in claim 15, wherein three or more first projections are provided proximate the first openings, and three or more second projections are provided proximate the second openings.

17. The conductive insert as recited in claim 15, wherein the respective first openings are surrounding be respective second openings, whereby the first projections alternate with the second projections across the first surface and second surface.