Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power system comprising a plurality of battery modules in series connection between adjacent battery modules, wherein each of the battery modules comprises a positive male terminal, a negative male terminal, and a socket corresponding to each of the positive male terminals and the negative male terminals. The connectors connecting the adjacent battery modules include a sequence tab that provides an irreversible engagement sequence of the connectors into the sockets of the adjacent battery modules. The irreversible engagement sequence positions an insulating portion of the connectors housing on each positive male terminal of the battery modules that are in series connection in order to isolate the positive male terminals from human contact. The present invention also provides a female terminal including a canted coil spring positioned within a stamped groove that may be housed within the above-described connectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a terminal ring assembly structured for engagement to a conductor post. The terminal ring assembly of the present invention includes a first ring element and a second ring element, each having a circular body and at least one grip having crimpable barrels for engaging a wire in electrical connectivity. The first and second ring elements further include an interlocking device, in which the interlocking components of the first and second ring elements engage each other so that the first and second ring elements are locked together.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly for interconnecting electrically powered vehicular components with an associated input male input pin and an output cable. The socket assembly includes a spring cage blank having first and second extending edges and a plurality of spaced apart and angled beams extending between the edges. The spring cage is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and particularly in an “hourglass shape”. A substantially tubular sleeve is provided for receiving the configured spring cage. The sleeve is compressingly engageable. The assembled sleeve and spring cage is capable of biasingly receiving and engaging an extending and inserting portion of the male pin. Gripping portions are integrally secured to the tubular sleeve and fixedly engage an extending end of a cable to electrically communicate the two cables.

Abstract: Fiber optic conduits are received around a central axis with their axes extending in the same direction as the central axis and with each fiber optic conduit tangent to two other fiber optic conduits. The fiber optic conduits define a first interstitial space therebetween and a plurality of second interstitial spaces between each pair of fiber optic conduits on a side thereof opposite the first interstitial space. An interstitial member is received tangent to each pair of fiber optic conduits defining each second interstitial space. Grounding members surround the interstitial members and the fiber optic conduits with their longitudinal axes extending in the same direction as the central axis. Each grounding member is tangent to two other grounding members and an imaginary tube which surrounds and is tangent to the interstitial members and the fiber optic conduits and which has a longitudinal axis coaxial with the central axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to male to female contact terminals, particularly those in use with associated wire harnesses or cables involved in higher voltage and current carrying vehicle applications. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved female terminal design for interengaging with a projecting blade of a male terminal and which in particular provides the combined features of improved contact area and controlled blade insertion. Additional features of the present design include the female terminal exhibiting one or more initial (sacrificial) contact points at the blade insertion end and which functions, with or without the application of a magnetic field inducing Lorentz force, to provide a controlled location at which voltage induced arcing will occur along the female terminal and without compromising the electrical interface created between the male terminal blade and the female terminal beams.

Abstract: A connector system for use with first and second wire harnesses and including a male housing sub-assembly and an engageable and female housing sub-assembly which defines an open interior therebetween. First and second pluralities of terminal pins are associated with each of the male and female sub-assemblies, individual wires associated with each of the first and second wire harnesses extending to selected ones of the first and second pluralities of terminal pins. Each of the male and female sub-assemblies further include any plurality of individual and stackable terminal retaining layers, and to which subset pluralities of the pins are secured. The stackable pin retaining layers provide the ability to adapt the capabilities of the connector system to allow for unique wire harness subsystems to be quickly assembled and to minimize unwanted “giveaway” of excess capacity in a base connector assembly.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly for interconnecting electrically powered vehicular components with an associated input male input pin and an output cable. The socket assembly includes a spring cage blank having first and second extending edges and a plurality of spaced apart and angled beams extending between the edges. The spring cage is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and particularly in an “hourglass shape”, configuration utilizing any of a variety of different forming and bending operations. A substantially tubular sleeve is provided for receiving the configured spring cage in axially inserting fashion. The sleeve is compressingly engageable, such as by forming an axially extending slit along the length of the sleeve with a predetermined incremental amount of spacing established between adjoining surfaces, and in order to create an interference fit with the axially inserted spring cage.

Abstract: A terminal clamping mechanism for use with a conventional battery having an upwardly extending post. The clamping mechanism includes a compressible battery terminal exhibiting a substantially annular shaped portion generally corresponding to an exterior configuration of the battery post. First and second projecting portions extend in spaced apart manner from opposing ends of the annular shaped portion. A lever arm exhibits an elongate and arcuate shape, a first end of which is secured to a fastener extending through apertures in the spaced apart projecting portions. An intermediate portion of the lever arm abuts against a selected projecting portion and, upon inward actuation of a second arcuate shaped end of the lever arm concurrent with placement of the annular shaped portion about the battery post, the lever arm compressing the terminal in a spring biasing and engaging fashion about the post.

Abstract: A one piece blank including a configurable and combination sleeve and spring cage, defining a first female connector, and which is interengageable with a male connector having an extending male terminal pin insertable within an opposing open end of the female connector, such that both a greater area of electrical contact and increased normal holding forces are established therebetween. The female terminal further includes a plurality of interiorly extending and elongated beams, accessible through said open end, and which are configured in a combined angled and torsional manner in order to achieve a three dimensional and substantially hourglass shaped configuration.

Abstract: Interbay housing assemblies for use with fiber optic management system racks, include a first enclosure having sidewalls, a rear opening and a plurality of front openings. Mounting brackets are attached to the sidewalls for attachment to adjacent equipment racks. Additional enclosures are positioned adjacent to the front openings. Each of the additional enclosures defines a slot for receiving cables. Each of the additional enclosures can include built-in radius control guides adjacent to the slot for receiving cables. A fiber optic cable management system including an interbay housing assembly positioned between two equipment racks is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket, a first core tube positioned within the outer jacket, and a first plurality of optical fibers positioned within the first core tube, wherein the cross-sectional area of the first plurality of optical fibers is less than 60 percent of the cross-section inside area of the first core tube and wherein the length of each optical fiber in the first plurality of optical fibers is between 1.0 and 1.001 times the length of the first core tube.

Abstract: A self diagnostic solid state relay for converting a low current input into a high current output and providing the combined functions of silent switching and visual indication of circuit status. A three dimensional polygonal shaped housing encloses a printed circuit board. A MOSFET field effect transistor, a pair of female circuit board terminals, and a pair of LED elements are electrically communicable with a first side of the printed circuit board, the LED elements further being viewable from an exterior location of the housing. A fuse including first and second spaced apart and extending blade portions engage, respectively, with the first and second female terminals through openings defined in the housing. A plurality of male circuit board terminals are in electrical communication with a second side of said printed circuit board and extend from further selected exterior locations of the housing.

Abstract: A connector assembly for use in transmission line installations. An elongated steel tube is provided and an aluminum sleeve is axially inserted into the tube and exhibits a rate of extrusion greater than the tube. A current carrying cable has a plurality of outer strands and a central extending plurality of inner strands which insert within the sleeve. The tube is subjected to a mechanically compressing and area reducing procedure such that the sleeve extrudes at a rate greater than the tube and the aluminum material associated with the sleeve fills irregularities existing between the inner strands. The sleeve also establishes stress relief between the wire strands and the tube. An aluminum outer tubular body is slidably engaged over the assembled tube and sleeve and is mechanically compressed at specified locations in order to secure about the outer strands of the cable.

Abstract: An electrical contact system including an elastomeric conductive material of specified shape and size, said conductive material exhibiting a first plurality of electrical contact locations. An electrical power supply connected to the conductive material and communicable with the first electrical contact locations. A like plurality of second electrical contacts are arranged in abutting and substantially two dimensional contact with respect to the first electrical contact locations, an electrically communicable conduit extends from the second contacts. The two dimensional electrical communication established between the abutting first and second contacts allows for a range of misalignment existing therebetween during low current (typically in a range of 1 mA-1A) transfer across the electrical contact system.

Abstract: A bussed electrical center for providing customizable current flow to electrical output components. An upper insulating layer has a first and second faces and exhibits a plurality of apertures through which are engaged male terminals pins, these further in operative communication with the electrical output components. A lower insulating layer has first and second faces exhibiting an apertured pattern according to a first specified configuration. A conductive grid overlays the first face of the lower insulating layer, an apertured pattern being defined in the grid according to a second specified configuration and further defined by interconnecting web portions, exposed by the apertured pattern in the lower insulating layer. Upon assembly of the insulating layers, with the grid stacked together, exposed web portions of the grid capable of being sectioned through the apertured pattern in the lower insulating layer and to establish a selected current flow direction across the grid.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly for electrically connecting a male input blade with an output cable. The socket assembly includes a spring cage exhibiting a three dimensional rectangular and arcuate cross sectional shape having a plurality of angled and torsioned beams. A sleeve exhibits a similar rectangular configuration and receives the configured spring cage in axially inserting and interference fitting fashion and so that the assembled sleeve and spring cage is capable of biasingly receiving and engaging the male blade. Gripping portions are integrally secured to the rectangular sleeve and fixedly engage an extending end of a cable to electrically communicate the cable to the blade. A sealed connector housing encases the terminal socket assembly and extending connector cables and encloses the assembled spring cage and sleeve. Other elements of the housing including a seating terminal position assurance element, seals and retainer elements engageable with opposite open ends of the housing.

Abstract: Fiber optic conduits are received around a central axis with their axes extending in the same direction as the central axis and with each fiber optic conduit tangent to two other fiber optic conduits. The fiber optic conduits define a central interstitial space therebetween and a plurality of outer interstitial spaces between each pair of fiber optic conduits on a side thereof opposite the central interstitial space. A central interstitial member is received in the central interstitial space tangent to the fiber optic conduits and an outer interstitial member is received in each outer interstitial space tangent to the pair of fiber optic conduits defining the outer interstitial space. The central interstitial member has a larger modulus of elasticity than each outer interstitial member.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly including a T-shaped sealed connector for interconnecting electrically powered vehicular components with a male input pin and output cable. A spring cage is formed into a substantially helix “hourglass shape” configuration. A tubular sleeve receives the configured spring cage in axially inserting fashion and includes first and second extending bracket portions which are biased towards each other to create a compressing and interference fit with the inserted spring cage. The assembled sleeve and spring cage is receives and engaging and inserting portion of the male pin. Gripping portions extend from a selected bracket portion and fixedly engage an extending end of a cable to electrically communicate the two cables. A sealed connector housing forms a part of and encases the terminal socket assembly and extending connector cables and includes assembleable male and female housing portions and end seals.

Abstract: A combined four way and seven way connector assembly for communicating a towing vehicle's electrical system with either a four way or seven way input harness associated with a towed vehicle. The towing vehicle includes a wire harness supplying an output of the electrical system. The connector assembly provides a three dimensional housing including a top and a plurality of interconnected sides and which is secured to a suitable rear end location of the towing vehicle. A circuit board, or other suitable component, contains a plurality of electrical circuits and is secured within the housing. A first plurality of terminals defines a four way connector and a second plurality of terminals defines a seven way connector. Each of the first and second pluralities of terminals communicates with a selected number of said plurality of circuits and further define first and second input plugs accessible through the housing by the towed vehicle input harness.

Abstract: A wire harness includes a flat cable having a trunk portion formed by covering a plurality of parallel electric wires with an insulating coating by integral molding, a plurality of branch portions formed by branching the trunk portion, and a joint device for connecting not less than two electric wires of the plurality of electric wires constituting the trunk portion to electrically short-circuit the branch portions.