Anti-fretting/multiple contact terminal using knurl pattern
AssigneeAptiv Technologies AG
InventorsJohn Morello, James M. Rainey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A female electrical terminal includes a securing end and a mating end coupled along a longitudinal axis to the securing end. The mating end includes a housing provided with an opening configured to receive a male contact. A contact pad located within the housing is oriented to be brought into contact with the male contact received within the opening, wherein a surface of the contact pad includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the surface.
Claims16
A female electrical terminal comprising:
- a securing end;
- a mating end coupled along a longitudinal axis to the securing end, the mating end including a housing provided with an opening configured to receive a male contact;
- and
- a contact pad located within the housing and having a surface positioned to contact the male contact received within the opening, wherein the surface of the contact pad includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the surface that are non-uniform in height, wherein a contact point is formed between a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions and the male contact and wherein the contact point migrates over time to a second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions in response to fretting of the first protrusion.
A connection assembly comprising:
- a female electrical terminal having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening and a contact pad located within the first end, wherein a surface of the contact pad is knurled to provide a plurality of protrusions extending from the surface that are non- uniform in height;
- and
- a male electrical terminal having a male contact that is received within the opening of the female electrical terminal and placed in contact with the contact pad, wherein a contact point is formed between a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions located at a first height and the male contact, wherein the contact point migrates over time in response to fretting of the first protrusion and is formed between a second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions located at a second height and the male contact, and wherein the second height is less than the first height.
A male electrical terminal configured for electrically contacting a contact pad of a female terminal, comprising:
- a first surface;
- and
- a second surface located opposite the first surface, wherein one of the first surface or the second surface includes a contact surface that includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the contact surface, wherein a first contact point is formed at a first location between a first one of the plurality of protrusions extending from the contact surface to a first height and the contact pad associated with the female terminal, wherein a second contact point is formed at a second location between a second one of the plurality of protrusions extending from the contact surface to a second height and the contact pad in response to fretting of the first one of the plurality of protrusions over time, and wherein the second height is less than the first height.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.