Power connector
View Patent ↗A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings. The open structure of both the receptacle and plug contacts enhances heat dissipation and allows flexibility in achieving desired contact normal forces. The contact construction is especially useful for electronic power connectors. The electronic power connectors can also be modified to accommodate connections for an external AC power supply. The connector housing incorporating the AC power connection capability can accommodate different forms of AC power supply termination contacts, such as spade-type contacts having a spring-like plug for receiving discrete quick connect socket terminals or contacts for connection to bus bars.
1. A receptacle electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a plurality of bus bar terminal contacts, each said bus bar terminal contact comprising:
a) a rear portion including opposed major side walls a bridge portion extending between the opposed major side walls and a medial space therebetween, defining a plug contact receiving space for accepting a plug contact associated with a plug electrical connector; and
b) a front portion including a clip extending outwardly from the bridge portion for engagement with a bus bar,
wherein each of the bus bar terminal contacts is devoid of any printed circuit structure engagement features, such that power transmission between a bus bar and a printed circuit structure via the bus bar terminal contacts requires engagement with a plug contact associated with the plug connector.
2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises a pair of opposing clip side walls and tab elements joined to each respective clip side wall by an arcuate elbow.
3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the distance between the arcuate elbows associated with the opposing clip side walls is slightly less than the thickness of the corresponding portion of the bus bar to which clip is engaged.
4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bus bar terminal contacts are arranged in said housing such that each clip is adapted for mating with a corresponding arm of a u-shaped projection of the bus bar.
5. A bus bar terminal contact comprising
a) a rear portion including opposed major side walls a bridge portion extending between the opposed major side walls, and a medial space therebetween, defining a plug contact receiving space for accepting a plug contact associated with a plug electrical connector; and
b) a front portion including a clip extending outwardly from the bridge portion for engagement with a bus bar,
wherein the bus bar terminal contact is devoid of any printed circuit structure engagement features, such that power transmission between a bus bar and a printed circuit structure via the bus bar terminal contact reguires engagement with a plug contact associated with a plug connector.
6. Matable electrical connectors for transmitting power between a bus bar and a printed circuit structure, the matable electrical connectors comprising:
a) a receptacle connector comprising a bus bar terminal contact including:
i) a rear portion including opposed major side walls a bridge portion extending between the opposed major side walls, and a medial space therebetween, defining a plug contact receiving space for accepting a plug contact associated with a plug connector; and
ii) a front portion including a clip extending outwardly from the bridge portion, for engagement with a bus bar;
b) a plug connector comprising a plug contact for insertion into the plug contact receiving space, the plug contact including at least one terminal for engaging a printed circuit structure, wherein the plug contact comprises opposed major side walls and a medial space therebetween.
7. The matable electrical connectors of claim 6 , wherein the clip comprises a pair of opposing clip side walls and tab elements joined to each respective clip side wall by an arcuate elbow.
8. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the distance between the arcuate elbows associated with the opposing clip side walls is slightly less than the thickness of the corresponding portion of the bus bar to which clip is engaged.