# US 9,882,357 B2 · Power distribution panel connector having thermal management feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,357 B2 - Document ID: US9882357B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/752,238 - Filed: 2015-06-26 - Published: 2016-12-29 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-26 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Debabrata Pal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882357B2 ## CPC - H02B 1/56: Cooling; Ventilation - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - H02B 1/015: Boards, panels, desks; Parts thereof or accessories therefor - H02B 1/20: Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards (installations of bus-bars H02G5/00) - H01R 11/11: End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member (H01R11/01 takes precedence) - H02G 5/10: Cooling - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract An aircraft power distribution system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a power source, a load, and a power distribution panel receiving power from the power source and selectively providing power to the load. The power source is connected to the power panel by a lug having a heat sink portion. The heat sink portion has at least one increased dimension relative to the remainder of the lug. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft power distribution system, comprising: a power source; a load; and a power distribution panel receiving power from the power source and selectively providing power to the load, wherein the power source is connected to the power panel by a lug having a heat sink portion, the heat sink portion having at least one increased dimension relative to the remainder of the lug; wherein the at least one increased dimension includes an increased width, wherein the lug has a first width at first and second ends, and a second width between the first and second ends, the second width greater than the first width. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the second width to the first width is about 2 to 1. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first width is about 0.5 inches and the second width is about 1 inch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lug has the second width over a length, and wherein a ratio of the length to the second width is about 6 to 1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the length is about 6 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the power source includes one of a generator of a gas turbine engine, a battery, an auxiliary power unit (APU), a ground power module, and a RAM air turbine; and the load includes one of aircraft cabin lighting, a hydraulic motor, a cabin air compressor, and an engine electric start motor controller. ### Claim 7 An aircraft power distribution system, comprising: a power source; a load; and a power distribution panel receiving power from the power source and selectively providing power to the load, wherein the power source is connected to the power panel by a lug having a heat sink portion, the heat sink portion having at least one increased dimension relative to the remainder of the lug; wherein the lug includes at least one fin, the at least one increased dimension including an increased height provided by the at least one fin; and wherein the at least one fin includes first, second, and third vertical fins, the first and third vertical fins projecting upward from a main body portion of the lug, and the second vertical fin projecting downward. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system as recited in claim 7, wherein a ratio of the increased height to a height of a main body portion of the lug is about 6 to 1. ### Claim 9 A power distribution panel, comprising: a printed wire board; a contactor mounted to the printed wire board; a first bus bar between the contactor and a power source, wherein the first bus bar is connected to the power source by way of a lug having a heat sink portion, the heat sink portion having at least one increased dimension relative to the remainder of the lug; and a second bus bar between the contactor and a load, the contactor operable to selectively open and close an electrical connection between the first and second bus bars; wherein the at least one increased dimension includes an increased width, and wherein the lug has a first width at first and second ends, and a second width between the first and second ends, the second width greater than the first width. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The power distribution panel as recited in claim 9, wherein a ratio of the second width to the first width is about 2 to 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power distribution panel as recited in claim 10, wherein the lug has the second width over a length, wherein a ratio of the length to the second width is about 6 to 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The power distribution panel as recited in claim 9, wherein the lug includes at least one fin, the at least one increased dimension including an increased height provided by the at least one fin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power distribution panel as recited in claim 12, wherein a ratio of the increased height to a height of a main body portion of the lug is about 6 to 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The power distribution panel as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one fin includes first, second, and third vertical fins, the first and third vertical fins projecting upward from a main body portion of the lug, and the second vertical fin projecting downward.