Canted coil springs, connectors and related methods
Connector assemblies formed by attaching two stamped housing sections to form a connector housing having a housing groove with a groove bottom and two side walls are disclosed. Using stamped housing sections can reduce manufacturing costs and simplifies assembly, among other things. The connector housings with a canted coil spring can be used as a mechanical connector and/or as an electrical connector for numerous applications and across numerous industries. The canted coil springs can have complex shapes, with optional dimples.
1. A connector assembly comprising:
a connector housing comprising a first housing section made at least in part by stamping attached to a second housing section made at least in part by stamping and having an interior cavity with a housing groove;
a canted coil spring having a plurality of coils that cant generally in a same direction located in the housing groove;
wherein the first housing section comprises a first bottom wall with an endmost surface and a first sidewall extending from the first bottom wall at an angle;
wherein the second housing section comprises a second bottom wall with an endmost surface and a second sidewall extending from the second bottom wall at an angle;
wherein the first bottom wall and the second bottom wall define a groove bottom of the housing groove and the first sidewall and the second sidewall define two sidewalls of the housing groove;
wherein the endmost surfaces of the first housing section and second housing sections are welded together end-to-end in a butt-joint or end-to-end with endmost surfaces that are angled to one another to form the connector housing having two opening; and
wherein the angle of the first housing section is an acute angle or an obtuse angle.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first housing section and the second housing section are substantially identical.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two openings align to receive a pin.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a canted coil spring located in the housing groove, wherein the canted coil spring comprises a plurality of coils and wherein each of the plurality of coils comprises a dimple.
5. The connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the coils with the dimples each comprises a straight segment.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angle of the second housing section is a right angle, an acute angle, or an obtuse angle.
7. The connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the canted coil spring comprises a plurality of coils each with three or more straight segments and defining an angle α and angle β between the three or more straight segments.
8. The connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein a base of each of the plurality of coils has a straight segment for forming a line contact with a bottom surface of the housing groove.
9. The connector assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a dimple on a segment of each of the plurality of coils for forming two contact points at each of the plurality of coils.
10. The connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein angle α is greater than angle β or angle α is less than angle β.
11. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein angle α is at least two straight segments separated from angle β, and angle α is greater than angle β or angle α is less than angle β.
12. A connector assembly comprising:
a connector housing comprising an interior cavity with a housing groove therein; and
a canted coil spring with complex coil shape comprising a continuous plurality of coils and a spring axis through said coils; each coil comprising a coil shape and a cross-sectional axis and canted about said cross-sectional axis; said coil shape comprising a polygonal geometry; said canted coil spring with polygonal geometry being received in the housing groove;
wherein the polygonal geometry coil shape comprises a plurality of straight segments with two adjacent straight segments having an angle therebetween consisting of an acute angle or an obtuse angle;
wherein the polygonal geometry comprises a five sided geometry with a first segment, a second segment, a third segment, a fourth segment, and a fifth segment;
wherein the first segment and the second segment are each arranged at a right angle to the third segment; and
wherein the first segment and the fourth segment define an angle α and the second segment and the fifth segment define an angle β.
13. The connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional axis is generally parallel to a straight segment of said polygonal geometry of said coil shape.
14. The connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein fourth segment is longer than the fifth segment.
15. The connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the fourth segment and fifth segment are approximately equal in length.
16. The connector assembly of claim 12 , an angle between the fourth segment and the fifth segment is an acute angle.
17. The connector assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a dimple form on one of the segments.
18. The connector assembly of claim 12 ,
wherein the connector housing comprises a first housing section attached to a second housing section having a seam located at a groove bottom of the housing groove.
19. The connector assembly of claim 18 , wherein angle α is greater than angle β or angle α is less than angle β.