US 5,513,075 AGranted

Module for electrically connecting conductor wires to circuits of flat surfaces such as solar panels

AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation

InventorsHarry M. Capper, Sam Denovich, James W. Robertson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A connector module (10,100,200) having at least one electrical terminal (24,116,206) therein, adapted to be sealingly mounted to a mounting surface upon being placed thereagainst at a connection site (30,112,204), and simultaneously form electrical connections of each terminal with a circuit (38,152,214) thereat, with the terminal adapted to be thereafter terminated to a discrete conductor wire (60,138,210,212) to interconnect the circuit with the wire. Upstanding lead members (40,160,216) are electrically connected to the circuits and are received into pin-receiving holes (50,172) along the module's bottom surface and become engaged with respective terminals. Each terminal is terminated to such a wire upon actuation of an actuator (26,118). A base section (14,104) of the module forms a seal with the mounting surface around the connection site (30,112,204). Such module can easily be mounted to a solar panel (32,110) or circuit board (202). The module can receive thereinto a circuit-bearing element (124) having components (122) mounted thereon upon being mounted to the mounting surface and environmentally seal therearound.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A conductor assembly for connecting at least one discrete conductor to a respective circuit of an article and that is mountable to a generally planar mounting surface of the article defining a connection site, comprising:

a housing module having a base section defining a mounting face adapted to be mounted to said surface at said connection site with adhesive sealing material disposed between said mounting surface and said surface surrounding said connection site, said housing module including at least one housing section for a respective terminal, and an at least one said terminal disposed in a terminal-receiving cavity of a respective said housing section and having at least one conductor-terminating section exposed in a respective conductor-receiving opening of said housing section, with fluid sealing material disposed within said terminal-receiving cavity embedding said terminal, and said housing module further including an actuator adapted to move said terminal from a first unterminated position to a second terminated position upon insertion of an end of a said conductor into said conductor-receiving opening of said housing section;
a lead member affixed to said article in a manner defining an electrical connection thereof to each said circuit of said article to which a said discrete conductor is to be interconnected, each said lead member including a pin section extending orthogonally from a surface of said article to a free end;
and
said mounting face of said housing module including a pin-receiving opening orthogonal to the mounting face and associated with each said lead member adapted to receive thereinto said pin section thereof upon mounting said housing module to said article surface, said pin-receiving opening being in communication with said terminal-receiving cavity of a respective said housing section, said terminal-receiving cavity adapted to urge said pin section of a respective said lead member against a surface of a said terminal upon mounting of said housing module to said connection site and during actuation thereof from said first position to said second position,
whereby a sealed connective arrangement is defined upon mounting said housing module to said mounting surface at said connection site.

2 more elements

A connective arrangement for connecting at least two discrete conductors to respective circuits of an article and that is mountable to a generally planar mounting surface of the article defining a connection site, comprising:

an article containing at least two circuits and including an electrical or electronic component secured thereto in electrical connection with at least two said circuits;
a housing module having a base section defining a mounting face adapted to be mounted to said surface at said connection site with adhesive sealing material disposed between said mounting surface and said surface surrounding said connection site, said housing module including at least one housing section for a respective terminal, an at least one said terminal disposed in a terminal-receiving cavity of a respective said housing section and having at least one conductor-terminating section exposed in a respective conductor-receiving opening of said housing section, with fluid sealing material disposed within said terminal-receiving cavity embedding said terminal, and said housing module further including an actuator adapted to move said terminal from a first unterminated position to a second terminated position upon insertion of an end of a respective said conductor into said conductor-receiving opening of said housing section;
a lead member affixed to said article in a manner defining an electrical connection thereof to each said at least one circuit of said article, said lead member including a pin section extending orthogonally from a surface of said article to a free end;
and
said mounting face of said housing module including a pin-receiving opening orthogonal to the mounting face and associated with each said lead member adapted to receive thereinto said pin section thereof upon mounting said housing module to said article surface, said pin-receiving opening being in communication with said terminal-receiving cavity of a respective said housing section, said terminal-receiving cavity adapted to urge said pin section of a respective said lead member against a surface of a said terminal upon mounting of said housing module to said connection site and during actuation thereof from said first position to said second position;
and
said housing module includes in communication with said mounting face a cavity adapted to receive thereinto an at least one electrical or electronic component mounted onto said article and electrically connected to at least two said circuits thereof,
whereby a sealed connective arrangement is defined upon mounting said housing module to said mounting surface at said connection site.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/204,975Filed 2 Mar 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 8 May 1992
Granted: 30 Apr 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H01R 13/6666
With built-in electronic circuit: with built-in overvoltage protection
H01R 4/2441
Curved plates: tube-shaped
H01T 4/06
Overvoltage arresters using spark gaps: mounting arrangements for a plurality of overvoltage arresters
H02S 40/34
Electrical components: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes

Family

Serial880,449Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 May 1992
Serial59,789Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 May 1993
US 5,321,577 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,317,474 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,513,075 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.