Arc-less electrical connector

First and second matable electrical connectors respectively including a blade terminal (110) and a receptor terminal (150) that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power. The blade terminal includes a main contact (112) having contact blades (114A and 114B) and an auxiliary contact (130)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors KRAUSE, NOBERT, HERRMANN JR., HENRY OTTO, TEUTSCHLAENDER, HORST, COPPER, CHARLES DUDLEY, PATTERSON, JEREMY CHRISTIN, MATTHEWS, RANDY THOMAS, NOVOTNY, LARRY GEORGE
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 10.11.2004
Edition7
Subjects
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
CURRENT COLLECTORS
ELECTRICITY
LINE CONNECTORS
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:First and second matable electrical connectors respectively including a blade terminal (110) and a receptor terminal (150) that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power. The blade terminal includes a main contact (112) having contact blades (114A and 114B) and an auxiliary contact (130) that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (140) located between the main (112) and auxiliary (130) contact . The main contact (112) will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact (130) can be longer than the main contact (112). Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact (112), because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact (130). I R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor (140), so when the auxiliary contact (130) is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold. The connectors include multiple latches which permit only discontinuous unmating of electrical connectors, so that the connectors can be disconnected without arcing for a range of currents.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP20020255391