Abstract: An electrical connector includes a socket that is configured to provide a current path between a connection terminal and a contact pin inserted into the socket during a standard connection. A slider component of the electrical connector is configured to move relative to the socket to make contact with the contact pin and provide a current path between the connection terminal and the contact pin during a fault condition connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a socket that is configured to provide a current path between a connection terminal and a contact pin inserted into the socket during a standard connection. A slider component of the electrical connector is configured to move relative to the socket to make contact with the contact pin and provide a current path between the connection terminal and the contact pin during a fault condition connection.

Abstract: In order to reduce acoustic noise, an electromagnetic relay (2) includes an insert or bump (20) located between the relay armature (4) and the relay core (8). The insert is flexible and can be mounted on the armature. The insert (20) reduces noise by decelerating the armature (4) at impact with the core (8). The armature (4) can be tilted relative to a surface of the core (8) so that the insert or bump (20) can be positioned away from the primary impact between the core and the armature.

Abstract: In order to reduce acoustic noise, an electromagnetic relay (2) includes an insert or bump (20) located between the relay armature (4) and the relay core (8). The insert is flexible and can be mounted on the armature. The insert (20) reduces noise by decelerating the armature (4) at impact with the core (8). The armature (4) can be tilted relative to a surface of the core (8) so that the insert or bump (20) can be positioned away from the primary impact between the core and the armature.

Abstract: Electrical connectors (40, 104) including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts (12, 112) and auxiliary contacts (16, 130) that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (6, 140) located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact (12, 112) will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact (16, 130) can be longer than the main contact (12, 112). Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact (12, 112), because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact (16, 130). I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor (6, 140), so when the auxiliary contact (16, 130) is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold.

Abstract: Arcs are prevented as electrical connectors are unmated by including a long and a short contact in an electrical connector with both contacts being connected along the same line between an electrical source and a load. The short contact comprises the lower resistance path between the source and the load and so carries most of the current when the connectors are fully mated. An electronic component, such as an FET or a positive temperature coefficient resistor is connected to the long contact. As the short contact is disconnected, the electronic component initially carries sufficient current to prevent arcing at the short contact. Current through the electronic component decays rapidly so that when the long contact is subsequently disconnected, the electrical energy in the short contact is reduced below an arcing threshold.

Abstract: Electrical connectors 40, 104 including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts 12, 112 and auxiliary contacts 16, 130 that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor 6, 140 located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact 12, 112 will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact 16, 130 can be longer than the main contact 12, 112. Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact 12, 112, because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact 16, 130. I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor 6, 140, so when the auxiliary contact 16, 130 is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold. Multiple latches 54A, B and 60A, B or 180 and 196 permit only discontinuous mating of electrical connectors, so that the connectors can be disconnected without arcing for a range of currents.

Abstract: A vehicle multiplex system includes a multiplex controller mounted in a fuse block of the vehicle. Both power buses and control buses radiate from the fuse block, and the control buses interconnect the controller with respective input and output units distributed about the vehicle. Preferably, the controller selects one of the control buses as an active bus at any given time and isolates the remaining control buses both from the active control bus and from the controller. In this way, system reliability is improved, and electromagnetic interference is reduced. By positioning the multiplex controller in the fuse block, wiring requirements for the multiplex system are simplified and the multiplex system is more readily integrated into the electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: High vacuum pumping system employs a poppet valve having dual seats for respectively seating a pair of vertically disposed spaced valve discs thereon to define a closed position. A refrigerated cold trap is located within a dome portion of the valve, i.e., above the upper of the valve discs while seated, and a diffusion pump is mounted below the valve to evacuate the vacuum process chamber when the discs are elevated or unseated to define an open position. The cold trap and diffusion pump are mounted in parallel and form a common axis with the poppet valve thereinbetween. Means are provided to equalize the pressures within the dome and vacuum process chamber when the discs are seated.

Abstract: An improved multi-pin high voltage connector is disclosed. The connector is easy to assemble and use, is low in cost and can withstand on the order of ten thousand mating cycles. It also has recessed contacts so that it is substantially impossible to make accidental engagement with the contacts in either the mated or unmated condition. The contact isolation is provided by intermating egg crate walls on both the plug and receptacle members which are received in grooves in the opposite member. This also provides an extremely long creepage path.

Abstract: An improved sealing means is disclosed for use with high voltage rack and panel connectors. The subject sealing means is received in a cavity of a panel or ferrule member and forms a recess which closely receives a rigid portion of a mating rack or mate connector member. A further portion of the sealing means allows for some flow to compensate for misalignment of the rigid portions of the mating connector members due to inaccuracies resulting from practical molding processes and/or mounting configurations. The configuration of the seal assures that it will remain in the panel when the connector is unmated.

Abstract: An anode connector is disclosed utilizing insulation piercing techniques to effect interconnection of a terminal with a conductor of a high voltage lead. This connector obviates the previous techniques requiring screws for attachment of the terminals and/or the molding in place of pre-terminated conductors resulting in a connector which is impossible to repair. The subject connector includes a molded insulative housing suitably profiled to engage both an anode and a high voltage lead. A terminal according to the present invention is mounted in the housing and receives the high voltage lead therein with the terminal effecting an insulation piercing, conductor engaging termination of the high voltage lead.

Abstract: A potting shell of resilient material is disclosed. The shell has an inwardly directed resilient lip which makes a wiping engagement with a rigid connector housing which is to be potted. The wiping engagement provides efficient sealing so that the previously required adhesives can be omitted. The elastomeric shell assumes sufficient rigidity after potting to become an integral part of the connector.

Abstract: A high voltage connector is disclosed which can be fabricated by low cost production methods. The subject connector has a header, which can be snap assembled to a circuit board or the like, and a plug member mating therewith. The plug member is formed by a housing which defines a plurality of cavities and a like plurality of snap-in terminal carrying members each received in a respective cavity. The subject connector can employ economical stamped and formed terminals and obviate the previous necessity for insert molding of the housing around terminated wires.

Abstract: A high voltage connector assembly is disclosed for terminating a coaxial cable, and comprises plug and receptacle members. The receptacle member has a profiled blind bore of reduced diameter in a forward face thereof, and peripheral contact means at a forward end having a flared mouth portion diverging outwardly from the forward face. The plug member is provided having a frustoconical forward nose portion, a rearward portion, and an integral intermediate annular flange portion. Conductive material is applied to the plug rearward portion, and to rearwardly and outwardly facing surfaces of the plug flange portion. As the plug nose portion is press inserted into the receptacle bore against a rearward surface within the bore, the plug nose portion flexes outwardly along its taper to evacuate the receptacle bore.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is disclosed having the capability of being field repairable as well as being assembled in a plurality of configurations by appropriate selection of parts. The assembly includes mating plug and receptacle shells, a pin insert and a socket insert each capable of being received in either shell aligned in a selected one of a plurality of positions and a mating socket terminal and pin terminal each being mountable in either said socket or said pin insert. The connector assembly further includes rubber boots to enclose conductors leading to the respective terminals as well as a rear sealing gasket making a sealing engagement between a respective pin or socket insert and the sealing boots, and the respective socket or plug shells.

Abstract: An improved coupling ring is disclosed having unitary structure providing spring biased engagement between cooperating members. The coupling ring has a substantially cylindrical profile including, at one end, a rigid portion with inwardly directed helical latching grooves and, at the opposite end, an integral spring portion terminating with an inwardly directed annular flange. The members to be coupled are assembled with the coupling ring engaging a shoulder of one member by the flange and with the grooves receiving lugs fixed on the opposite member so that rotation of the ring will draw the members together and hold them together in a spring loaded condition.

Abstract: A high voltage, quick disconnect electrical connector assembly is disclosed formed from entirely dielectric members which assure rapid disconnection of the assembly even in the unlikely event of jamming of the normal disconnect mechanism. The connector assembly includes a pair of mating housing members with latching inserts fixed in a receptacle member and engaging in a plug member of the assembly. The quick disconnect feature is provided by an annular shroud member which slides axially on the receptacle member between a first position in which the latching inserts are in a normally outward position allowing free insertion of the plug into the receptacle and a second position in which the shroud biases the latching inserts so that lobes on the free ends thereof project into respective detents in the plug portion to lock the connector members together.