Electrical connectors – With circuit component or comprising connector which fully... – Connector includes or covers additional component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-11
2001-08-21
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With circuit component or comprising connector which fully...
Connector includes or covers additional component
C361S022000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276969
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to terminal connectors for connecting a lead wire that forms a current path to a terminal and more particularly to terminal connectors suitable for mounting on a glass sealed terminal provided in the casing of a sealed electromotive compressor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to provide protection devices, such as motor protectors, for electromotive compressor motors employed in air conditioners and the like (hereafter also referred to as motor protection device). The motor protection device typically includes movable contacts controlled by a current carrying bimetal element which is actuated by elevated environmental temperatures and/or overcurrents. The motor protection device is typically attached to a motor coil of the compressor motor mounted inside the casing of the electromotive compressor. The motor is connected to an external alternating current power source through the motor protection device, lead wires and glass sealed terminals provided in the casing.
If the electromotive compressor is subjected to an overload or a locked rotor condition due to abnormal circumstances, the environmental temperature inside the casing rises and/or the amount of electric current that passes through the motor protection device rises, the motor protection device then opens the power source circuit by actuation of the bimetal element, thereby preventing possible damage in the compressor caused by excessive temperature or overcurrent. When the temperature and current value are restored to the normal state, the motor protection device closes the power circuit once again and restores the power supply to the compressor.
However, if the motor protection device has been used beyond its useful product life, its contacts could weld together with a result that there are cases where an electrically conductive state continues to be maintained even when the electromotive compressor happens to be in a fault condition. In such cases, the temperature of the motor winding rises further and the electrically insulating material on the winding conductors melts, thereby causing short-circuiting between the windings or the glass of the glass seal melts, with the terminal being blown out by the internal pressure in the sealed casing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus which overcomes the prior art limitation described above and which prevents concomitant trouble that the electromotive compressor would encounter in the event that the motor protection device, by exceeding its useful product life, ceases to perform normally.
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a terminal connector for connecting a lead wire to a terminal in a current path comprises a lead wire attachment portion for attachment to the lead wire in electrically conductive relationship therewith, a terminal mounting portion for mounting on the terminal and a fuse portion which electrically connects the lead wire attachment portion and the terminal mounting portion and which melts at a predetermined overcurrent with a reinforcement member disposed adjacent to the fuse portion to protect the fuse portion against external forces. In certain embodiments, the reinforcement member is formed of electrically insulating material. According to a feature of a preferred embodiment, the reinforcement member is interposed between facing selected surfaces of the lead wire attachment portion and the terminal mounting portion. According to another feature of a preferred embodiment, the reinforcement member is integrally formed by insert molding the lead wire attachment portion and the terminal mounting portion. According to a feature of the invention, the lead wire attachment portion, the terminal mounting portion and the fuse portion are formed integrally.
Although useful with various electrical equipment, preferably the mounting portion is configured to be mounted on a glass sealed terminal provided through the casing of a sealed electromotive compressor. If desired, the terminal mounting portion can be configured to be mounted on the terminal portion that protrudes outwardly from the casing of a glass sealed terminal and the lead attachment portion can be configured to be attached to the lead wire from the alternating current power source of the sealed electromotive compressor. The terminal mounting portion can also be configured to be mounted on the glass sealed terminal part that protrudes inwardly into the interior of the casing and the lead wire attachment portion can be configured to be attached to the lead wire from the electromotive compressor inside the casing. In the latter instance, it is preferable that the lead wire attachment portion be attached to the lead wire from the motor protection device provided in the electromotive compressors inside the casing.
The invention further relates to a motor protection device that is to be mounted in the casing of a sealed electromotive compressor, the device comprising a lead wire for connection to the glass sealed terminal through the terminal connector at the distal tip end of the lead wire. The invention further relates to a glass sealed terminal that is to be mounted in the casing of a sealed electromotive compressor that is equipped with the terminal connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4791329 (1988-12-01), Ubukata et al.
patent: 5118260 (1992-06-01), Fraser, Jr.
patent: 5515217 (1996-05-01), Higashikata et al.
patent: 5685679 (1997-11-01), Sugiura
patent: 5903418 (1999-05-01), Boivin et al.
patent: 6030257 (2000-02-01), Furuya
Furukawa Hideharu
Satoh Tatsuhiko
Unno Mitsuru
Baumann Russell E.
Patel Tulsidas
Telecky , Jr. Frederick J.
Texas Instruments Incorporated
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