Randomly-accessible electrical busbar with protective cover and associated mating connector
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsThomas L. Weaver, Edward R. Winkler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and systems described herein provide for a randomly-accessible electrical busbar with a protective cover and an associated mating connector. Both the busbar and the associated mating connector have multiple, electrically conductive bristles protruding from a surface. The busbar is protected by a nonconductive fabric cover to reduce the risk of a person from accidentally contacting the electrically conductive bristles. A connection is made between the mating connector and the busbar by the bristles of the mating connector penetrating the protective fabric cover and interdigitating with the bristles of the busbar.
Claims20
An electrical connection apparatus comprising:
- a busbar comprising an electrically conductive surface having a plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed substantially perpendicular therefrom;
- a nonconductive fabric cover covering the plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed from the electrically conductive surface of the busbar;
- and
- a mating connector comprising an electrically conductive surface having a plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed substantially perpendicular therefrom,
- wherein a connection between the mating connector and the busbar is created by the plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed from the electrically conductive surface of the mating connector penetrating through the nonconductive fabric cover and interdigitating with the plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed from the electrically conductive surface of the busbar.
A system for connecting an equipment module to a power bus, comprising:
- a mounting framework comprising a means for mounting the equipment module;
- a power bus attached to the mounting framework comprising an electrically conductive surface having a plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed substantially perpendicular therefrom;
- a nonconductive fabric cover attached to the mounting framework covering the power bus;
- and
- a mating connector attached to the equipment module comprising an electrically conductive surface having a plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed substantially perpendicular from therefrom,
- wherein when the equipment module is mounted to the mounting framework, the plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed from the electrically conductive surface of the mating connector penetrate the nonconductive fabric cover and interdigitate with the plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed from the electrically conductive surface of the power bus, establishing a connection between the power bus and the equipment module.
An electrical connection apparatus comprising:
- a conductive fabric bus stretched between two conductive supporting members;
- a nonconductive fabric cover covering the conductive fabric bus;
- and
- a mating connector comprising an electrically conductive surface having a plurality of electrically conductive bristles disposed substantially perpendicular therefrom,
- wherein a connection between the mating connector and the conductive fabric bus is created by the plurality of electrically conductive bristles penetrating the nonconductive fabric cover and contacting the conductive fabric bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.