Abstract:
In a smart or intelligent electrical connector assembly, a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in a first connector has circuit traces that extend from various locations on the PCB to a single, particular area between edges of the PCB. Components such as switches and microcontrollers for controlling the connector assembly circuits are electrically connected to the traces at the various locations. A terminal block is mounted at the single, particular area. The terminal block has terminals with ends electrically connected with the traces. The other ends of the terminals extend outward from surfaces of the block towards the edges of the PCB. Wire harness terminals within the first connector and within a second, mating connector of the assembly electrically connect with the terminal block terminals. By having the PCB terminals extend from a location inward from and above the PCB edges, rather than being located directly on the edges themselves, the PCB can be made smaller and the connectors can have a more telescopic fit, resulting in a compact connector assembly.
Abstract:
A mounting device has a lock component attached to a wire harness shield and a bracket component for attachment to an engine part. The bracket component has two spaced, upright parallel arms defining an opening between them. The arms have free ends extending toward each other and separated by a gap. The lock component has a box-like shape with spaced sides. A deflectable section is formed in a first side. A stem extends from the deflectable section toward a second side of the lock component and through a slot in the second side. A push element is formed on an end of the stem extending from the slot. Latches or ledges are formed on ramp-shaped protrusions formed on the deflectable section on each side of the stem. When the lock component receives the parallel arms of the bracket component, the free ends of the arms act on the protrusions to force the deflectable section outward until the ledges snap beneath the free ends of the arms. To release the mounting device, pressing force on the push element moves the ledges from beneath the arms, and the lock component can be lifted from the bracket component.
Abstract:
An electrical connector has a plurality of internal chambers containing wiring harness terminals for making connection with terminals of a mating wiring harness connector, and a locking wedge receptacle adjacent the terminal chambers having a plurality of electrical component terminals in communication therewith. Latch members separate the terminal chambers from the locking wedge receptacle and have nubs formed thereon which engage the terminals to retain them in their respective chambers. An electrical circuit component such as a fuse, resistor, capacitor or diode is sized to fit snugly within the locking wedge receptacle and has contacts which make electrical connection with the electrical component terminals when inserted therein. Insertion of the circuit component into the locking wedge receptacle places the body of the circuit component in contact with the latch members so that they are maintained in engagement with their respective wiring harness terminals, thereby locking the terminals securely in their respective terminal chambers.
Abstract:
A first connector has a series of movable terminals having bifurcated ends comprising first and second prongs spaced apart from one another and a pair of parallel, rotatable cam members disposed on either side of the first prongs to sandwiching them therebetween. The cam members are elliptical in cross section and are connected with one another by intermeshing gears to rotate in unison. A second connector has a series of fixed terminals and a pair of actuation arms extending parallel with the terminals and having toothed ends. As the first and second connectors are moved into engagement with one another, the fixed terminals are inserted between the first and second prongs and the toothed ends engage the gears, rotating the cam members so they deflect the movable terminals to bring the second prongs into contact with the fixed terminals. Contact between the two sets of terminals is delayed until the last few millimeters of travel of the first and second connectors as they are mated, thus substantially reducing the frictional resistance resulting from contact between the terminals.
Abstract:
A power system includes a battery charge path and capacitor charge path arranged in parallel. During an inrush event, a current limiting element restricts current flow along the battery charge path to relieve battery stress. During the inrush event, current flow between the battery and load along a bypass path is also prevented by a switch element. Under steady state charging conditions, the resistance of the current limiting element decreases, thus increasing current flow between the battery and load along the battery charge path. During steady state conditions, a switch circuit controls operation of the switch element to also allow current flow between the battery and load along the bypass path. The change in the resistance of the current limiting element and/or actuation of the switch element by the switch circuit are optionally based on changes in temperature, and are passively effectuated without requiring an external control input signal.
Abstract:
A connector assembly includes a housing and a terminal assembly received within the housing. The terminal assembly includes an adapter plate and one or more terminals. The adapter plate includes a plurality of slots and is configurable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The one or more terminals are positionable within the plurality of slots of the adapter plate. The one or more terminals include a blade extending from a first side of the adapter plate and one or more pins extending outward from a second side of the adapter plate opposite the first side. The one or more terminals are positionable in a first subset of the plurality of slots to provide the first configuration, and positionable in a second subset of the plurality of slots to provide the second configuration.
Abstract:
An arc suppression pre-charge circuit includes a source for providing energy to a load and a main contactor selectively closed to provide energy from the source to the load, wherein the main contactor provides an alternate current path from the source to the load and bypasses a pre-charge branch of the circuit when the main contactor is closed. The pre-charge branch includes a voltage-controlled resistor and a control circuit configured to control a resistance of the voltage-controlled resistor.
Abstract:
A liquid-cooled charging system for a vehicle is configured to dissipate heat generated during charging (including fast-charging) of an electrically-powered vehicle. The liquid-cooled charging system includes a charging assembly having an interface assembly configured to support a charging plug of a charging station and an energy transfer assembly configured to electrically couple the charging station to the battery of the vehicle during charging. Components of the charging assembly and energy transfer assembly also define a fluid circuit. A coolant system of the liquid-cooled charging system is fluidly connected to the fluid circuit, allowing coolant to flow through the fluid circuit to dissipate heat from the charging assembly components during charging of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A liquid-cooled charging system for a vehicle is configured to dissipate heat generated during charging (including fast-charging) of an electrically-powered vehicle. The liquid-cooled charging system includes a charging assembly having an interface assembly configured to support a charging plug of a charging station and an energy transfer assembly configured to electrically couple the charging station to the battery of the vehicle during charging. Components of the charging assembly and energy transfer assembly also define a fluid circuit. A coolant system of the liquid-cooled charging system is fluidly connected to the fluid circuit, allowing coolant to flow through the fluid circuit to dissipate heat from the charging assembly components during charging of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A connector assembly for a vehicle charging system includes a first housing defining a charge port of the vehicle charging system and a second housing coupled to the first housing. The second housing is configured to receive an electrical wire including a power terminal therein. The connector assembly further includes a flexible tube coupled to the second housing and a phase change material disposed therein. The phase change material is configured to surround at least a portion of the electrical wire. The phase change material is configured to store heat energy from at least one of the electrical wire or the power terminal. The connector assembly further includes a cover coupled to the second housing for facilitating the injection of the phase change material into the flexible tube.