IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0751836
(2004-01-05)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Borgstrom,Alan D.
- Stepniak,Frank M.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Thomas &
- Betts International, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
27 인용 특허 :
43 |
초록
▼
A method for forming a separable electrical connector having an electrical interface surface includes the steps of molding an interface shell from a thermoplastic, placing the interface shell against an electrical interface portion of a mold cavity and molding a housing within the mold cavity. When
A method for forming a separable electrical connector having an electrical interface surface includes the steps of molding an interface shell from a thermoplastic, placing the interface shell against an electrical interface portion of a mold cavity and molding a housing within the mold cavity. When placed in the mold cavity, the interface shell provides a barrier to the mold cavity interface portion, wherein the housing is isolated from the electrical interface potion of the mold cavity by the interface shell. The shell has an inner surface and an outer surface and the housing is bonded to one of the inner and outer surfaces, wherein the other of the inner and outer surfaces of the shell defines the electrical interface surface of the electrical connector.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a separable electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding an interface shell from a thermoplastic, said shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said interface shell molding step includes the step of forming a transition shoulde
What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a separable electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding an interface shell from a thermoplastic, said shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said interface shell molding step includes the step of forming a transition shoulder portion and a sleeve portion on said interface shell, said transition shoulder portion being radially larger than said sleeve portion and including at least one vent for venting a cavity formed between the separable electrical connector and a mating connector upon disconnection therebetween; placing said interface shell within an interface portion of a mold cavity, whereby said shell provides a barrier to said mold cavity interface portion; and molding a housing within said mold cavity, wherein said housing is isolated from said interface potion of said mold cavity by said interface shell during molding and is bonded to one of said inner and outer surfaces of said shell, and wherein the other of said inner and outer surfaces of said shell defines said interface surface of said electrical connector. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against contamination of said housing. 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against the formation of mold parting lines in said housing. 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against the formation of mold flashing on said housing. 5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against the formation of surface disruptions on said housing. 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing molding step includes the step of injection molding rubber material into the mold cavity to form said housing. 7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is molded from an epoxy material. 8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface shell is molded from a material having a color different from that of the housing material. 9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface shell is molded from a low coefficient of friction plastic. 10. A separable electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing including an interface section being dimensioned to be sealed in a mating connector; and an interface shell formed from a thermoplastic and having a sleeve portion provided on at least a substantial portion of said interface section of said housing, said sleeve portion defining a surface for interfacing with said mating connector, wherein said interface shell further includes a transition shoulder portion, said transition shoulder portion being radially larger than said sleeve portion and including at least one vent for venting a cavity formed between the separable electrical connector and the mating connector upon disconnection therebetween. 11. An electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said interface shell is molded from a material having a color different from that of said housing material. 12. An electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the color of said interface shell is representative of an operating voltage of the electrical connector assembly. 13. An electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said housing further includes a shoulder section being radially larger than said first end section, and wherein said interface shell further includes a band portion being provided on said shoulder section of the housing. 14. An electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said band portion of said shell has a first color different than that of the housing for providing visual indication of proper assembly of the electrical connector assembly and said sleeve portion of said shell has a second color different than that of said housing and said band portion for representing operating voltage of the electrical connector assembly. 15. An electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said band portion of said interface shell is integral with said sleeve portion. 16. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 10, wherein said insulative housing is molded within said interface shell, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against contamination of said interface section of said housing during molding. 17. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 10, wherein said insulative housing is molded within said interface shell, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against the formation of mold parting lines on said interface section of said housing during molding. 18. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 10, wherein said insulative housing is molded within said interface shell, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against the formation of mold flashing on said interface section of said housing during molding. 19. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 10, wherein said insulative housing is molded within said interface shell, wherein said interface shell provides a barrier against the formation of surface disruptions on said interface section of said housing during molding. 20. An electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative housing having an axial bore therethrough, said housing including a first end section being dimensioned to be sealed in a first mating connector, wherein said housing further includes a shoulder section being radially larger than said first end section, and wherein said interface shell further includes a band portion being provided on said shoulder section of the housing and wherein said band portion includes at least one vent for venting a cavity formed between the electrical connector assembly and the first mating connector upon disconnection therebetween; a conductive member positioned within said axial bore of said housing; and an interface shell formed from a low coefficient of friction plastic and having a sleeve portion provided on at least a substantial portion of said first end section of said housing for reducing frictional forces between the electrical connector assembly and the first mating connector upon connection and disconnection therebetween. 21. A high voltage connector assembly comprising: a loadbreak bushing insert rated at or below 25 kV, the loadbreak bushing insert including an insulative outer housing having an axial bore therein and a conductive member disposed in said axial bore, said outer housing including a probe receiving end, a mid-section dimensionally radially larger than said probe receiving end and a transition shoulder portion between said mid-section and said probe receiving end, said transition shoulder portion having a vent for venting an annular top surface of said transition shoulder portion with a longitudinal side surface of said transition shoulder portion; and a power cable elbow connector rated at or below 25 kV, the power cable elbow connector including a conductor receiving end and a loadbreak bushing insert receiving end forming a mating interface, said bushing insert receiving end including a conductive probe therein and an open end portion having an elbow cuff therearound, said elbow cuff substantially covering said vent on said loadbreak bushing insert mid-section side surface when said power cable elbow connector is fully seated on said loadbreak bushing insert and said elbow cuff exposing said vent in said loadbreak bushing insert transition shoulder portion upon disassembly and movement of said power cable elbow connector away from said loadbreak bushing insert to vent to the surrounding atmosphere a cavity formed between the mating interface of the power cable elbow connector and bushing insert to prevent a pressure decrease within the cavity and the occurrence of flashover due to a decrease in dielectric strength of air within the cavity. 22. A high voltage connector assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein said elbow cuff of said power cable elbow connector provides an environmental seal with said longitudinal side surface of said loadbreak bushing insert transition shoulder portion when said power cable elbow connector is fully seated on said loadbreak bushing insert. 23. A high voltage connector system comprising: a power elbow connector rated at or below 25 kV, the power cable elbow connector including a conductor receiving end and a loadbreak bushing insert receiving end, the elbow connector further including a conductive probe positioned within the loadbreak housing receiving end, the loadbreak bushing insert receiving end further including an elbow cuff surrounding an open end thereof, and a loadbreak bushing insert rated at or below 25 kv, the loadbreak bushing insert including an outer housing having an axial bore therein and a conductive member adapted to receive an end of the conductive probe therein, wherein the outer housing includes a power cable elbow insertion end and a mid-section radially larger than the power cable insert end, and forming a transition shoulder portion between the mid-section and power cable elbow insertion end, the loadbreak bushing insert and power cable elbow connector being dimensioned to be coupled in interference-fit relationship, the transition shoulder portion including at least one means for venting a cavity defined by mating interfaces in the elbow cuff region of the connector system upon disassembly such that the vent is exposed below a distal end of the elbow cuff to place said cavity in fluid communication with the surrounding ambient air to prevent a decrease in air pressure within the cavity upon separation of the connector system thereby preventing flashover due to a decrease in the dielectric strength of air within the cavity by a decrease in pressure therein. 24. A high voltage connector system as defined in claim 23, wherein said elbow cuff of said power elbow connector provides an environmental seal around the loadbreak bushing insert mid-section when said elbow connector is fully coupled with said bushing insert. 25. A method of preventing flashover in a high voltage connector system rated at or below 25 kV, the connector system comprising a power cable elbow connector including a cable receiving end and a loadbreak bushing insert receiving end, the loadbreak bushing insert receiving end including an elbow cuff surrounding an opening thereof, and a loadbreak bushing insert including an outer housing having a power cable elbow insertion end and a mid-section dimensionally radially larger than any portion of the insertion end, the loadbreak bushing insert including a transition shoulder portion at the juncture of the mid-section and insertion end, the method comprising: forming a means for venting at the transition shoulder portion of the loadbreak bushing insert; coupling the loadbreak bushing insert to an energy source; coupling the power cable elbow connector to the energized loadbreak bushing insert; disconnecting the power cable elbow connection from the energized loadbreak bushing insert such that a cavity formed in the elbow cuff region during separation is vented by the vent means being exposed below a distal end of the elbow cuff such that air pressure in the cavity is equalized with surrounding air pressure thereby preventing a decrease in the dielectric strength of air within the cavity and preventing flashover.
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