Electrically conducting terminal
View Patent ↗An electrical terminal having at least one open end that is configured to receive a connector in an electrically conducting manner. The open end portion of the connector may be configured with differently sized and/or shaped portions to facilitate receipt of connector, such as to receive the connector in a manner that limits misalignment and/or receipt of bent or crooked connectors.
1. An electrical terminal configured to receive a connector having a connector diameter, the terminal comprising:
an electrically conducting body;
an open end interior to at least one end of the body;
a first portion of the open end adjacent to the at least one end of the body, the first portion having a first diameter and a first axial length;
a second portion of the open end spaced apart from the first portion, the second portion having a second diameter and a second axial length;
wherein the first diameter is a first amount greater than the connector diameter;
wherein the second diameter is a second amount greater than the connector diameter for precise alignment of the connector;
wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount for funnel type guiding of the connector prior to the precise alignment of the second diameter;
a third portion of the open end between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion having a third diameter and a third axial length, the third diameter being greater than the second diameter; and
a resilient element within the third portion having an opening configured to provide an interference fit with the connector, the resilient element having a resilient element axial length.
2. The electrical terminal of claim 1 further comprising an aperture extending through a sidewall of the conducting body into the second portion to prevent pressure build-up during connector insertion.
3. The electrical terminal of claim 2 further comprising the second portion having a fourth portion of a fourth diameter greater than the second diameter for receipt of a bent connector, the fourth portion being spaced apart from the third portion, with the second portion between the third portion and the fourth portion.
4. The electrical terminal of claim 3 wherein the fourth diameter is greater than the first diameter.
5. The electrical terminal of claim 3 wherein the fourth diameter is approximately equal to the first diameter.
6. The electrical terminal of claim 3 wherein the fourth diameter is less than the third diameter and the third diameter is greater than the first diameter.
7. The electrical terminal of claim 2 wherein no more than the aperture is included inboard the first portion to provide a fluid passageway from the open end to an area exterior to the terminal.
8. The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein an inner diameter of the opening in the resilient element is less than the second diameter.
9. The electrical terminal of claim 8 wherein the inner diameter of the opening in the resilient element is less than the connector diameter.
10. The electrical terminal of claim 9 wherein the resilient element includes a plurality of coils configured to define the inner diameter.
11. The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein the first axial length, the second axial length, and the third axial length are at least equal to the resilient element axial length.