IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,431,121
Granted Patent B2
US 11,431,121 · App. 17/049,150 · Granted Aug 30, 2022

Interposer/electrical connector

Inventors: Jasper Van Nierop (Hoogeven, NL); Louk Barents (Hoogeven, NL); Erik Groen (Hoogeven, NL); Ashley Brooks (Redditch, GB); Stephen Goodfellow-Jones (Redditch, GB)
Assignees: GKN Aerospace Services Limited; Fokker Aerostructures BV
H01R13/41H01R13/2471H01R13/521
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,431,121
App. No.
17/049,150
Granted
Aug 30, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical coupling for aerospace applications comprises an interposer arranged in use to electrically connect an electrical connector to an electrical circuit, the electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrical contacts and the electrical circuit comprising a plurality of electrical conductors. The interposer comprises a body arranged to surround each electrical contact within the connector.

Claims (26)

1. An electrical coupling, the coupling comprising:

an interposer arranged to electrically connect an electrical connector to an electrical circuit,

the electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrical contacts and the electrical circuit comprising a plurality of electrical conductors,

the interposer comprising a body arranged to surround each electrical contact at a portion of the body proximate to the electrical conductors, said body comprising a plurality of ducts each arranged around an electrical contact and configured to extend from the body along at least part of the length of each contact towards the electrical connector; and

wherein the coupling further comprises a seal layer provided with a plurality of apertures each aperture aligning with a respective contact and wherein the seal layer is located at a portion of the body proximate to the electrical conductors.

2. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein the body and ducts are integral with each other.

3. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein each electrical contact comprises a biasing arrangement at a portion of the contact proximate to the electrical conductors, arranged to bias a distal end of the contact against a respective electrical conductor.

4. The electrical coupling of claim 3 , wherein the biasing arrangement is a spring arranged to bias a distal portion of the contact towards a respective conductor.

5. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein each contact is an electrical conductor extending through the interposer and comprising a proximal end arranged for electrical contact with the electrical connector and a distal end arranged for electrical contact with an associated electrical conductor.

6. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts and the ducts have a complementary shape.

7. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein inner surfaces of the ducts are in contact with outer surfaces of the contacts.

8. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein a length of each contact is longer than a distance measured between a portion of the electrical connector associated with a proximal portion of a respective contact and a surface of an electrical conductor associated with a distal portion of the respective contact.

9. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein the contacts are circular in cross-section and the ducts are arranged to surround each contact.

10. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein the interposer includes an electrically insulating material.

11. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , wherein the interposer further comprises a peripheral wall surrounding and spaced from the ducts, said wall extending in a direction parallel with the ducts.

12. The electrical coupling of claim 11 , wherein the peripheral wall is a ring surrounding the ducts and extending in a direction parallel with the ducts and further comprising a radial space between the ducts and the wall, said space arranged to receive a portion of the electrical connector.

13. The electrical coupling of claim 11 , further comprising a peripheral ring arranged to surround a portion of the coupling adjacent to the peripheral wall, wherein the peripheral wall is integral with the body of the interposer.

14. The electrical coupling of claim 1 , further comprising an end cap arranged to connect an end of the coupling and to define a cavity into which electrical conductors may extend, wherein the end cap further comprises the seal layer arranged to abut with a side of an electrical conductor layer opposite to a side against which the contacts abut.

15. An electrical coupling, the coupling comprising:

a body configured to be integrated with a surface wherein the body comprises a plurality of ducts arranged to align with corresponding connections of an electrical connector at a first end and to align with a plurality of electrical conductors at a second end;

wherein the conductors are integrated with the surface, the ducts extending through the body, wherein each duct comprises an electrical contact, each electrical contact comprising a biasing arrangement at a portion of the contact proximate to the electrical conductors, to bias a distal end of the contact against a respective electrical conductor; and

wherein the coupling further comprises a seal layer provided with a plurality of apertures each aperture aligning with a respective contact and wherein the seal layer is located at a portion of the body proximate to the electrical conductors.

16. The electrical coupling of claim 15 , wherein the biasing arrangement is a spring arranged to bias a distal portion of the contact towards a respective conductor.

17. The electrical coupling of claim 15 , wherein a face of the body proximate to the electrical conductors comprises a convex profile corresponding to a predetermined curvature.

18. The electrical coupling of claim 17 , wherein the face of the body proximate to the electrical conductors further comprises a peripheral flange extending from the body for attachment to a structure.

19. The electrical coupling of claim 18 , wherein the flange and/or body are formed from a composite material.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: VAN NIEROP, JASPER; BARENTS, LOUK; GROEN, ERIK
To: FOKKER AEROSTRUCTURES BV
Reel/Frame 057817/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: BROOKS, ASHLEY; GOODFELLOW-JONES, STEPHEN
To: GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057817/0141 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1806590 · Apr 23, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210242619A1 · Aug 5, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,597,743