IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,817,667
Granted Patent B1
US 11,817,667 · App. 18/147,348 · Granted Nov 14, 2023

High voltage connector service extraction tool

Inventors: Bryce Steven Allen (Westminster, CA); Jonathan Verghese (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Assignee: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
H01R43/20B60R16/033H01R13/516H01R13/6581
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,817,667
App. No.
18/147,348
Granted
Nov 14, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

An apparatus can be or include an extraction tool. The extraction tool can include a body. The extraction tool can include a prong including a tip extending from the body, the tip to disengage a retention member to separate the housing from a connector.

Claims (57)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a body; and

a prong comprising a tip extending from the body, the tip to depress a retention member of a connector to separate a housing from the connector, the connector to electrically couple a battery pack of an electric vehicle with a drive unit of the electric vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the tip to depress the retention member disposed between the housing and the connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the tip to depress the retention member disposed between the housing and the connector, wherein engaging the retention member decouples the housing from the connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the tip to depress the retention member disposed between the housing and the connector to disengage the retention member from a retaining groove, wherein disengaging the retention member from the retaining groove decouples the housing from the connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the body including a first portion having a first dimension, a second portion having a second dimension, and a shoulder portion between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first dimension is less than the second dimension to define the shoulder portion; and

the shoulder portion to apply a force to the connector to separate the housing from the connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the body defining an opening; and

the prong to depress the retention member with the connector at least partially extending into the opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the body including a shoulder portion;

the tip to engage the retention member of a shield disposed between the housing and the connector, wherein engaging the retention member decouples the housing from the shield with the shield coupled with the connector; and

the shoulder portion to apply a force to the shield to separate the housing from the shield and the connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prong is a first prong, the tip is a first tip, and the retention member is a first retention member comprising:

a second prong including a second tip extending from the body parallel with the first prong;

the first tip to engage the first retention member of a shield with the shield disposed between the housing and the connector, the first retention member extending from a first side of the connector; and

the second tip to engage a second retention member of the shield, the second retention member extending from a second side of the connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prong is a first prong, the tip is a first tip, and the retention member is a first retention member, the apparatus comprising:

the body including a shoulder portion;

a second prong including a second tip, the second prong extending from the body parallel with the first prong;

the first tip to engage the first retention member of a shield with the shield disposed between the housing and the connector, the first retention member extending from a first side of the connector;

the second tip to engage a second retention member of the shield, the second retention member extending from a second side of the connector; and

the shoulder portion to apply a force to the shield to separate the housing from the shield and the connector.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prong is a first prong, the tip is a first tip, and the retention member is a first retention member, the apparatus comprising:

a second prong including a second tip, the second prong extending from the body parallel with the first prong;

the first tip to engage the first retention member of a shield with the shield disposed between the housing and the connector, the first retention member extending from a first side of the connector; and

the second tip to engage a second retention member of the shield, the second retention member extending from a second side of the connector;

wherein engaging the first retention member and the second retention member simultaneously decouples the housing from the shield with the shield coupled with the connector.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the tip including a taper, the taper to guide the tip between the housing and the connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the tip including a taper angled inwards, the taper to guide the tip between the housing and the connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prong is a first prong, the tip is a first tip, and the retention member is a first retention member, the apparatus comprising:

the tip including a taper angled inwards, the taper to guide the tip between the housing and the connector;

a second prong including a second tip extending from the body parallel with the first prong, the second tip including a second taper angled inwards, the second taper to guide the second tip between the housing and the connector;

the first tip to engage the first retention member of a shield with the shield disposed between the housing and the connector, the first retention member extending from a first side of the connector; and

the second tip to engage a second retention member of the shield, the second retention member extending from a second side of the connector;

wherein engaging the first retention member and the second retention member simultaneously decouples the housing from the shield with the shield coupled with the connector.

14. A method, comprising:

inserting a connector into an opening of an extraction tool, the connector to electrically couple a battery pack of an electric vehicle with a drive unit of the electric vehicle;

depressing, by a prong of the extraction tool, a retention member to decouple the connector from a housing; and

separating the housing from the connector with the connector in the opening and the prong depressing the retention member.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the extraction tool includes a shoulder portion extending perpendicular to the prong, comprising:

applying, by the shoulder portion, a force to the connector to remove the housing from the connector.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the prong includes a tapered tip, the tapered tip to guide the prong between the housing and the connector.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the retention member extends from a shield disposed between the housing and the connector, wherein engaging the retention member decouples the housing from the shield with the shield coupled with the connector.

18. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a connector extending into an opening of a housing, the connector to electrically couple a battery pack of an electric vehicle with a drive unit of the electric vehicle; and

a retention member to engage a notch of the housing to couple the connector to the housing;

the retention member engageable by a prong of an extraction tool to separate the housing from the connector, the prong including a tip to guide the prong between the connector and the housing without damaging the connector or the housing.

19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 18 , wherein the retention member extends from a shield disposed between the housing and the connector, wherein the retention member is engageable by the prong of the extraction tool to separate the housing from the shield with the shield coupled with the connector.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: ALLEN, BRYCE STEVEN; VERGHESE, JONATHAN
To: RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
Reel/Frame 062610/0704 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
To: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062610/0922 →
Cited By (4)
US 1,128,595 US 1,128,596 US 1,130,321 US 1,131,396