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US 8,523,576 B2Granted
Connector for coupling an electric motor to a power source
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsStephen G. Heien, Jimmy M. Chang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector is provided for coupling an electric motor of a vehicle to a power source. The connector comprises electrode and a connector housing receiving at least a portion of the electrode. The connector housing is configured to snap-fit into a powertrain housing of the vehicle via compliant flanges. In this way, the connector may be coupled to the vehicle powertrain housing without other fasteners.
Claims15
A connector, comprising:
- an electrode having a first end configured with a flattened portion having a hole formed therein for fastening to a terminal block within a vehicle powertrain housing and a second end configured to receive a mating end of a cable coupled to an inverter;
- and
- a connector housing receiving at least a portion of the electrode and configured to snap-fit into a one of a plurality of connector openings in a connector block of a vehicle powertrain housing via compliant flanges positioned on the connector housing;
- wherein, the connector may be coupled to the vehicle powertrain housing without other fasteners and wherein the inverter is coupled to the terminal block within the vehicle powertrain housing.
1 more element
A connector, comprising:
- an electrode having a first end configured to receive a mating end of a cable from an inverter and a second end configured with a flattened portion having a hole formed therein for fastening for electrically connecting to a terminal block of a vehicle powertrain;
- and
- a connector housing receiving at least a portion of the electrode and having compliant flanges positioned on the connector housing and configured to deform slightly when pressed into one of a plurality of connector openings in a connector block of a vehicle powertrain housing and snap back to form a snap-fit connection with the connector block of the powertrain housing;
- wherein, the connector may be coupled to the vehicle powertrain housing without other fasteners and wherein the inverter is coupled to the terminal block within the vehicle powertrain housing.
1 more element
A connector, comprising:
- an electrode having a first end configured to receive a mating end of a cable from an inverter and a second end having a flattened portion with a hole formed therein for fastening to a terminal block within a vehicle powertrain housing thereby forming an electrically connection to the terminal block the electrode also having a groove configured to receive an o-ring for forming a seal between the electrode and connector housing;
- and
- a the connector housing being configured to receive at least a portion of the electrode and having compliant flanges positioned on the connector housing and configured to deform slightly when pressed into one of a plurality of connector openings in a connector block of the vehicle powertrain housing and snap back to form a snap-fit connection with the connector block of powertrain housing, the connector housing also having a groove configured to receive an o-ring for forming a seal between the connector and the powertrain housing;
- wherein, the connector may be coupled to the vehicle powertrain housing without other fasteners and wherein the inverter is coupled to the terminal block within the vehicle powertrain housing.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.