High-voltage connector
Embodiments of the present invention provide a high-voltage connector comprising a first high-voltage connection interface comprising first and second high-voltage pins and first and second high-voltage interlock pins; a second high-voltage connection interface comprising third and fourth high-voltage pins and third and fourth high-voltage interlock pins and a high-voltage interlock connection interface, wherein the first high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage pin, the second high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the fourth high-voltage pin, the first high-voltage interlock pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage interlock pin, and the second and fourth high-voltage interlock pins are electrically connected to the high-voltage interlock connection interface.
1. A high-voltage inline connector, comprising:
a first high-voltage connection interface comprising first and second high-voltage pins and first and second high-voltage interlock pins;
a second high-voltage connection interface comprising third and fourth high-voltage pins and third and fourth high-voltage interlock pins; and
a high-voltage interlock connection interface;
wherein the first high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage pin, the second high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the fourth high-voltage pin, the first high-voltage interlock pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage interlock pin, and the second and fourth high-voltage interlock pins are electrically connected to the high-voltage interlock connection interface,
wherein the high-voltage inline connector is formed in three parts, the three parts comprising:
a first header;
a second header; and
an inline connector body;
wherein the first header comprises the first high-voltage connection interface, the second header comprises the second high-voltage connection interface, and the connector body comprises the high-voltage interlock connection interface; and
wherein the first and second headers are attachable to the inline connector body, such that when attached the first and third high-voltage pins are within a first pin bore of the inline connector body and the second and fourth high-voltage pins are within a second pin bore of the inline connector body, wherein the first and third high-voltage pins are electrically connected via a first busbar located in the first pin bore, and the second and fourth high-voltage pins are electrically connected via a second busbar located in the second pin bore.
2. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 1 , wherein the first header further comprises a fifth high-voltage pin, the second header further comprises a sixth high-voltage pin, and the inline connector body comprises a third pin bore.
3. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second headers comprise one or more high-voltage interlock pin bores, wherein each of the high-voltage interlock pins extends through one of the high-voltage interlock pin bores.
4. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 1 , wherein the headers are connected to the inline connector by at least one of a bolt, rivet, over-centre clamp, latch or an adhesive.
5. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second high-voltage connection interfaces comprises a flange arranged to locate an end connector of a high-voltage harness.
6. A vehicle comprising the high-voltage inline connector of claim 1 .
7. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a first high-voltage component having an associated first harness and a second high-voltage component having an associated second harness, wherein the first and second high-voltage components are connected to each other by connecting the first harness to the first high-voltage connection interface and connecting the second to the second high-voltage connection interface.
8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the connection between the first harness and the first high-voltage connection interface is releasable.
9. A high-voltage inline connector, comprising:
a first high-voltage connection interface comprising first and second high-voltage pins and first and second high-voltage interlock pins,
a second high-voltage connection interface comprising third and fourth high-voltage pins and third and fourth high-voltage interlock pins, and
a high-voltage interlock connection interface;
wherein the first high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage pin, the second high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the fourth high-voltage pin, the first high-voltage interlock pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage interlock pin, and the second and fourth high-voltage interlock pins are electrically connected to the high-voltage interlock connection interface;
wherein the high-voltage inline connector is formed in three parts, the three parts comprising:
a first header,
a second header, and
an inline connector body;
wherein the first header comprises the first high-voltage connection interface, the second header comprises the second high-voltage connection interface, and the connector body comprises the high-voltage interlock connection interface; and
wherein the first and second headers are attachable to the connector body, such that when attached the first and third high-voltage pins are within a first pin bore of the inline connector body and the second and fourth high-voltage pins are within a second pin bore of the connector body, wherein the first high-voltage pin directly contacts the third high-voltage pin in the first pin bore and the second high-voltage pin directly contacts the fourth high-voltage pin in the second pin bore.
10. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 9 , wherein the first header further comprises a fifth high-voltage pin, the second header further comprises a sixth high-voltage pin, and the inline connector body comprises a third pin bore.
11. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second headers comprise one or more high-voltage interlock pin bores, wherein each of the high-voltage interlock pins extends through one of the high-voltage interlock pin bores.
12. The high-voltage inline connector of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second high-voltage connection interfaces comprises a flange arranged to locate an end connector of a high-voltage harness.
13. An inline connector body for a high-voltage inline connector, the inline connector body comprising:
a first mounting point;
a second mounting point; and
a high-voltage interlock connection interface;
wherein:
the first mounting point is arranged to have a first header mounted thereon and the second mounting point is arranged to have a second header mounted thereon;
the first header comprises a first high-voltage connection interface comprising first and second high-voltage pins and first and second high-voltage interlock pins;
the second header comprises a second high-voltage connection interface comprising third and fourth high-voltage pins and third and fourth high-voltage interlock pins; and
when the first and second headers are mounted on the inline connector body, the first high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage pin, the second high-voltage pin is electrically connected to the fourth high-voltage pin, the first high-voltage interlock pin is electrically connected to the third high-voltage interlock pin, and the second and fourth high-voltage interlock pins are electrically connected to the high-voltage interlock connection interface;
wherein the first and second headers are attachable to the inline connector body, such that when attached the first and third high-voltage pins are within a first pin bore of the inline connector body and the second and fourth high-voltage pins are within a second pin bore of the inline connector body, wherein the first and third high-voltage pins are electrically connected via a first busbar located in the first pin bore, and the second and fourth high-voltage pins are electrically connected via a second busbar located in the second pin bore.
14. The inline connector body of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second headers comprise one or more high-voltage interlock pin bores, wherein each of the high-voltage interlock pins extends through one of the high-voltage interlock pin bores.
15. The inline connector body of claim 13 , wherein the headers are connected to the inline connector by at least one of a bolt, rivet, over-centre clamp, latch or an adhesive.
16. The inline connector body of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second high-voltage connection interfaces comprises a flange arranged to locate an end connector of a high-voltage harness.
17. A vehicle comprising the inline connector body of claim 13 .
18. The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising a first high-voltage component having an associated first harness and a second high-voltage component having an associated second harness, wherein the first and second high-voltage components are connected to each other by connecting the first harness to the first high-voltage connection interface and connecting the second to the second high-voltage connection interface.
19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the connection between the first harness and the first high-voltage connection interface is releasable.
20. The inline connector body of claim 13 , wherein the first header further comprises a fifth high-voltage pin, the second header further comprises a sixth high-voltage pin, and the inline connector body comprises a third pin bore.