Self-cleaning electrical connector having pins with insulated ends

A compact connector arrangement, comprising:

• a first connector having a first connector body made from an electrically insulated material and including a first plurality of electrical conductors;
• a plurality of pins extending from the first connector body, each of the plurality of pins including a core made from an electrically conductive material, the core being electrically connected with one of the first plurality of electrical conductors;
• a second connector having a second connector body made from an electrically insulated material and including a second plurality of electrical conductors;
• a plurality of sockets extending through the second connector body between two corresponding opposed openings;
• and
• a plurality of sleeves made from an electrically conductive material, the plurality of sleeves disposed along a socket from the plurality of sockets and being electrically connected with one of the second plurality of electrical conductors,
• wherein at least one pin of the plurality of pins has a cross-sectional area that is different from a cross-sectional area of at least one other pin of the plurality of pins, and
• wherein an electrical connection between the first and second pluralities of electrical conductors is established when the plurality of pins is fully disposed within the plurality of sockets such that each respective core is electrically connected with each respective sleeve.

A method for providing a self-cleaning electrical connector, comprising:

• providing a pin extending from a first connector body, the first connector body including a first electrical conductor, the pin including a core made from an electrically conductive material, the core electrically connected with the first electrical conductor;
• providing a socket formed in a second connector body, the second connector body including a second electrical conductor, the socket being open between two opposed openings in the second connector body to form a through-bore;
• providing a sleeve made from an electrically conductive material, the sleeve disposed along the socket and electrically connected to the second electrical connector, wherein the sleeve has an internal diameter that mates with an outer diameter of the pin, and wherein the socket has an internal diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the pin;
• inserting an insulated tip of the pin into the socket through the first of the two opposed openings;
• providing a radial gap defined between portions of the outer diameter of the pin and portions of the socket;
• removing debris from the socket by scraping an inner surface of the socket with the insulated tip while pushing the tip towards the second of the two opposed openings;
• and
• establishing an electrical connection between the first and second electrical conductors with the pin fully disposed within the socket in a mated condition of the pin and the socket such that the core is electrically connected with the sleeve and a remaining portion of an area around the pin within the socket other than a mated portion between the pin and the sleeve is left open by a presence of the radial gap.