Universal wiring harness for automatic transmission

Abstract

A universal wiring harness that is capable of providing electrical connections to the various electrical components contained within a variety of vehicular automatic transmissions includes a plurality of electrical conductors that are supported on a relatively rigid support bracket that is shaped in accordance with the basic structure of the transmission such that the electrical conductors are generally directed toward the locations of the various electrical components. The electrical conductors are preferably covered with an electrical insulator that is formed from polytetraflouoroethylene because it provides enhanced resistance to degradation from chemical exposure, heat, penetration (such as from abrasion or cutting), and color fading. A plurality of terminals and connectors are connected to the ends of the electrical conductors so as to facilitate the connections to the various electrical components of the electronic control system. At least some of the terminals and connectors may be adapted to provide alternative electrical connections with some of the components of the transmission, depending upon the particular structure of the transmission. To prevent dirt and other contaminants from entering into the unused terminal, and further to prevent electrical short circuits from occurring, a closure cap can be provided. If desired, the electrical conductors of the two terminal may be spliced together. The provision of multiple terminals and connectors for a single function allows the wiring harness as a whole to be readily adaptable for use with a variety of different transmission structures. As a result, the number of different wire harness structures that is required to be manufactured or maintained in inventory is greatly reduced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.