Electrical Connector Latching Mechanism

An apparatus comprising:

• a connector comprising a first surface, the first surface comprising a first colinear axis aligned with a second colinear axis of an inlet during an alignment step, wherein the first surface is within a first distance of a second surface of the inlet, the first surface parallel to the second surface and orthogonal to the first colinear axis;
• a puller arm coupled to the connector and configured to extend into the inlet to a second distance from the second surface of the inlet during a gripping step;
• and
• a gripping element coupled to the puller arm and configured to apply a first compressive force against the inlet during the gripping step, wherein the puller arm is configured to retract relative to the connector during the gripping step, thereby extending a first electrode of the connector into the inlet to connect the first electrode with a second electrode of the inlet, the gripping element subsequently configured in a captured state to prevent the first compressive force from being applied against the inlet.

A method for latching an electrical connector comprising:

• aligning a first colinear axis of a connector with a second colinear axis of an inlet, wherein a first surface of the connector is within a first distance of a second surface of the inlet, the first surface parallel to the second surface and orthogonal to the first colinear axis;
• extending a puller arm of the connector into the inlet to a second distance from the second surface of the inlet, wherein the puller arm comprises a gripping element configured to apply a first compressive force against the inlet;
• and
• retracting the puller arm relative to the connector while applying the first compressive force against the inlet, wherein the puller arm remains in the inlet at the second distance, thereby extending a first electrode of the connector into the inlet to connect the first electrode with a second electrode of the inlet, wherein the first electrode transfers power to the second electrode from a high-power supply.