Electrical connector contacts
AssigneeAmerace Corporation
InventorAlan D. Borgstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrical connector contact elements in which a tubular member of an aluminum material is captured within a surrounding member of a copper material, the tubular member having a bore for receiving a cable conductor to which the contact element will be crimped and the surrounding member including a further connector portion for connection to a further conductive member, the tubular member being in intimate electrical connection with the surrounding member and remaining in such intimate connection throughout a range of operating temperatures.
Claims30
An electrical connector contact element capable of being connected to a cable conductor constructed of a material having given thermal expansion characteristics throughout a range of operating temperatures, the contact element comprising:
- a first portion constructed of a material having thermal expansion characteristics similar to those of the cable conductor, the first portion having a prescribed length and including means for connecting the conductor to the first portion;
- a second portion constructed of a material having thermal expansion characteristics different from those of the cable conductor, the second portion including means for connecting the second portion to a further conductive member;
- and
- means in the second portion surrounding and capturing the first portion within the second portion essentially along the entire length of the first portion such that the first and second portions are in intimate electrical connection and remain in such intimate electrical connection throughout the range of operating temperatures.
An electrical connector contact element capable of being connected to a conductor, said contact element comprising:
- a first member of a metal having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the first member having a prescribed axial length and a generally tubular wall including an external surface extending axially between opposite ends;
- a second member of a metal having a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion, the second member extending axially between opposite ends and including a cavity having an internal surface extending axially from one of the opposite ends toward the other of the opposite ends;
- the first member being seated within the cavity of the second member with essentially the entire length of the first member within the cavity of the second member and the external surface of the first member in intimate contact with the internal surface of the second member;
- means capturing the first member within the cavity of the second member;
- an opening at said one end of the second member for enabling placement of the conductor within the tubular wall of the first member;
- and
- connector means in the second member for connecting the second member to a further conductive member.
The invention of 9, 10 or 11 wherein the first member is constructed of an aluminum material and the second member is constructed of a copper material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.