High current carrying connector

A connector comprising:

• a first housing portion comprising a plurality of first cavities therein;
• a second housing portion matable with said first housing portion and comprising a plurality of second cavities therein each matable with one of said first cavities;
• and
• a hermaphroditic contact retained in each of said cavities of said first and second housing portions;
• said hermaphroditic contacts constructed to be matable with each other in pairs;
• said first and second housing portions each constructed to retain a pair of said matable contacts in each matable pair of cavities in positions enabling each pair of said matable pairs of contacts to become mated when said first and second housing portions are mated;
• each of said matable contacts comprising:
• a trough-like element;
• a pair of elongated, leaf-like elements mounted over said trough-like element;
• and means for retaining a conductor on said contact;
• said pair of elongated, leaf-like elements and each contact of each pair of matable contacts being constructed to fit within the trough-like element of the other contact of said matable pair of contacts to provide four separate areas of electrical contact between the four leaf-like elements and the two trough-like elements of a mating pair of said matable contacts;
• each of said matable contacts further comrising an embossed area on each of said elongated leaf-like elements;
• said embossed areas being positioned on said leaf-like elements to make contact with the inner surfaces of the trough-like element of the mating contact to enable cooling air to flow between said inner surfaces and said trough-like element and the mating leaf-like elements adjacent thereto.

In a connector for retaining at least one pair of hermaphroditic contacts and comprising a first housing portion comprising at least one first cavity therein and a second housing portion matable with said first housing portion and comprising at least one second cavity therein matable with said first cavity, and with said first and second housing portions constructed to retain one of said hermaphroditic contacts in each matable cavity in positions enabling said at least one pair of hermaphroditic contacts to become mated when said first and second housing portions are mated, each of said matable contacts comprising:

• a trough-like element;
• a pair of elongated spring elements mounted upon said trough-like element;
• and means for retaining a conductor;
• said pair of elongated spring elements of a pair of mated contacts being constructed to fit within the trough-like element of the other contact of said pair of mated contacts to provide four separate areas of electrical contact between the four spring elements and the two trough-like elements of a pair of mated contacts;
• each of said matable contacts further comprises a raised area on each of said elongated spring elements;
• said raised areas being positioned in said spring elements to make contact with the inner surfaces of the trough-like element of the mating contact to enable cooling air to flow between said inner surfaces of said trough-like element and the mating spring element adjacent thereto.