# US 8,771,024 B2 · Dual compressive connector

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- Number: US 8,771,024 B2
- Document ID: US8771024B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/646,904
- Filed: 2012-10-08
- Published: 2013-03-14
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-22
- Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
- Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
- Inventors: Vadim Shmukler; Israel Gershman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771024B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/2414: {conductive elastomers}
- H01R 13/2435: {with opposite contact points, e.g. C beam}
- H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
- H10F 77/93: {Interconnections}
- H10F 77/937: {Busbar structures for modules}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An electrical connector for electrically connecting multiple photovoltaic bus bars. A casing includes first and second opposing walls. An elastic strip is bent into a bent elastic strip with a first leg and a second leg. The bent elastic strip is disposed between the first and second walls of the casing with the first leg pressing against the first wall and the second leg pressing against the second wall. The bent elastic strip is configured to hold at least one of the photovoltaic bus bars between the first leg and the first wall and another of the photovoltaic bus bars between the second leg and the second wall. The bent elastic strip may be formed of resilient spring metal with a thickness and an elastic modulus. The thickness and/or the elastic modulus of the elastic strip is/are configured so that the bus bars are inserted without requiring a tool to open a space and so that the bus bars are removed from the connector without requiring a tool to break the electrical connection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrical connector, comprising:
a casing having formed therein an opening to receive a first bus bar and a second bus bar, the casing comprising a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall; and
an elastic strip comprising a first leg and a second leg,
wherein the first leg is configured to press against the first wall and the second leg is configured to press against the second wall, and
wherein the elastic strip is configured to hold the first bus bar, inserted through the opening, between the first leg and the first wall and to hold the second bus bar, inserted through the opening, between the second leg and the second wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1,
wherein at least one of a thickness and an elastic modulus of the elastic strip is configured such that the first bus bar and the second bus bar are inserted without requiring a tool to open a first space between the first leg and the first wall or open a second space between the second leg and the second wall.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1,
wherein at least one of a thickness and an elastic modulus of the elastic strip is configured such that the first bus bar between the first leg and the first wall is removable by pulling the first bus bar, and the second bus bar between the second leg and the second wall is removable by pulling the second bus bar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a protrusion of at least one of the first leg and the second leg is configured to be inserted into and pass through a hole in the casing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1,
wherein at least one of the first leg and the second leg of the elastic strip is slotted longitudinally over a portion thereof to form a third leg, and
wherein the third leg is configured to hold a third bus bar against one of the first wall and the second wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg are individually operable to hold and release the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the third bus bar, respectively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the elastic strip is formed of resilient spring metal, and wherein at least one of a thickness and an elastic modulus of the elastic strip is configured such that the first bus bar and the second bus bar are inserted by poking.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a single bend of the elastic strip forms the first leg and the second leg.

### Claim 9

An electrical connector, comprising:
a casing including a first wall and a second wall, the second wall opposing the first wall;
a first elastic strip comprising a first leg and a second leg; and
a second elastic strip comprising a third leg and a fourth leg;
wherein the first leg presses against the first wall, the second leg and the third leg press against each other, and the fourth leg presses against the second wall,
wherein the first elastic strip and the second elastic strip are configured to hold a first bus bar between the first leg and the first wall, a second bus bar between the second leg and the third leg, and a third bus bar between the third leg and the second wall.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electrical connector of claim 9,
wherein at least one of a thickness and an elastic modulus of the first elastic strip and the second elastic strip are configured such that the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the third bus bar are inserted by poking.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The electrical connector of claim 9,
wherein at least one of a thickness and an elastic modulus of the first elastic strip and the second elastic strip are configured such that an electrical connection is breakable when a user pulls on at least one of the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the third bus bar.

### Claim 12

A method, comprising:
folding sheet metal to form a casing with an opening to receive a first bus bar and a second bus bar therethrough, the casing comprising a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall; and
inserting an elastic strip through the opening of the casing between the first wall and the second wall such that a first leg of the elastic strip presses against the first wall and a second leg of the elastic strip presses against the second wall.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising electrically connecting the first bus bar by poking the first bus bar through the opening and between the first wall and the first leg of the elastic spring.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising electrically disconnecting the first bus bar by pulling the first bus bar out from between the first wall and the first leg of the elastic spring through the opening.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
bending a strip of resilient spring metal to form the elastic strip having the first leg and the second leg.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the inserting of the elastic strip comprises pushing a protrusion of the first leg of the elastic strip through a hole in the casing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising punching or drilling a hole in the first wall of the casing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising welding or soldering the first leg of the elastic strip to the casing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising soldering an electrical fixture, extending from the casing, to a solder pad.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising dividing the second leg of the elastic strip to form a third leg of the elastic strip.