Electrical component package

Abstract: An electrical component package (10) comprises an insulator housing (12) of thermoplastic material having a hollow base (26) and a cover (28). The hollow base supports and locates an electrical component (14) longitudinally in a component cavity (32) and holds and positions the leads (36) of the electrical component in terminal cavities (39) at opposite longitudinal ends of the component cavity. Insulation displacement terminals (16,18) are then inserted into the terminal cavities establishing electrical connections with the positioned leads. The hollow base is then partially filled with a sealant material after which the electric component package is installed on a pair of electric cables (22,24) by closing the cover to push the electric cables down into insulation displacement slots (58) of the respective terminals.

Description: This invention relates generally to electrical component packages and more specifically to electrical component packages that are capable of being attached to a pair of insulated electrical wires. US Patent No. 4,822,299 discloses such an electrical component package in which an electrical component is packaged in an insulator housing that has insulation displacement terminals and operating members to facilitate field assembly to insulated electrical wires. US Patent No. 3,865,460 also discloses electrical component packages in which an electrical component is packaged in an insulator housing that has insulation displacement terminals to connect the electrical component to a pair of insulated electrical wires. The object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical component package of the above noted type. An electrical component package in accordance with the present invention is characterised over US 3,865,460 by the features specified in the characterising portion of claim 1. A feature of the invention is that the electrical component is preloaded into the insulator housing providing strain relief and precision alignment of the leads of the electrical component for electrical connection to the subsequently assembled insulation displacement terminals. Another feature of the invention is that insulation displacement terminals are connected to the leads of the electrical component before the electrical component package is assembled to the electrical cables so that the connection, polarity, and function of the electrical component can be checked both before and after application of a sealant material, if used. Preferably, the insulator housing provides integral strain relief from external applied forces via integrated elements of the cover and hollow base of the insulator housing. The hollow base and cover of the insulator housing are preferably configured to reduce the volume of the component cavity and the cover to reduce the amount of sealant material required, when used. Preferably, the insulator housing has sealant dams that are configured to assist in cradling and centring the electrical cables to facilitate the electrical cables being forced into the insulation displacement slots of insulation displacement terminals disposed in the insulator housing. In this case, the sealant dams are preferably configured to break outwardly when the electrical cables are forced into the insulation displacement slots of the insulation displacement terminal disposed in the insulator housing. The cover is preferably retained on the hollow base of the insulator housing in a partially closed position to facilitate full closure with an assembly tool. The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical component package in accordance with the invention showing the cover in an open position and the hollow base of the insulator housing positioned for attachment to a pair of insulated electrical cables; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the electrical component package of Figure 1 showing the cover in a fully closed position firmly attaching the electrical component package to the pair of insulated electrical cables; Figure 3 is a section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 4 is a section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the electrical component package of Figure 1 showing the cover in a partially closed position to facilitate full closure and firm attachment of the electrical component package to the pair of insulated electrical cables with an assembly tool; and Figure 6 is a section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. Referring now to the drawing, an electrical component package 10 in accordance with this invention comprises an insulator housing 12, an electrical component 14 (such as a diode, capacitor, resistor or the like), a pair of insulation displacement terminals 16, 18 and preferably a sealant material 20. The electrical component package 10 is adapted for assembly to a pair of insulated electric wires or cables 22, 24 such as would be found in an automotive wiring harness for example. The insulator housing 12 is moulded of a thermoplastic material and comprises a lower housing portion or hollow base 26 and an upper housing portion or cover 28 that is integrally attached to the hollow base 26 by strap portions 30. The bottom of the hollow base 26 has a component cavity 32 that is reduced in volume by offsetting the side walls 27 inwardly toward each other as best shown in figures 1, 3 and 6. The component cavity 32 includes means for supporting and locating the electrical component 14 longitudinally in the component cavity 32 in the form of a generally U-shaped cradle 34. The U-shaped cradle 34 comprises a central member 34c and end members 34e of increased height that include their short end walls 34w as best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The hollow base 26 also has means for holding and positioning leads 36 of the electrical component 14 that is supported in the U-shaped cradle 34. This means for holding and positioning the leads 36 comprises the short end walls 34w and slotted lead clips 38 and supports 40 that are longitudinally spaced from each other in alignment with the U-shaped cradle 34 and disposed in terminal cavities 39 at each end of the U-shaped cradle 34. The short end walls 34w, slotted lead clips 38 and supports 40 position the leads 36 for connection with the respective insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18. The slotted lead clips 38 also serve to hold the electrical component 14 down in the U-shaped cradle 34. The hollow base 26 further includes means for retaining the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 in the terminal cavities 39 comprising retainer blocks 41 that are beside each of the slotted lead clips 38 in the respective terminal cavities 39. The terminal cavities 39 extend in opposite lateral directions with respect to the U-shaped cradle 34 to receive the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 in opposite orientations as best shown in Figure 1. Thus the retainer blocks 41 are located on opposite sides of the respective slotted lead clips 38. These retainer blocks 41 cooperate with the hollow base 26 to retain the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 in the terminal cavities 39 as explained below. The hollow base 26 still further includes means for supporting the electric cables 22 and 24 comprising the elevated end members 34e of the U-shaped cradle 34 and a pair of interior towers 42 at each end of the hollow base. Each end of the hollow base 26 has a pair of elongated slots 44 for receiving the respective electric cables 22 and 24. One of the towers 42 is at the base of each elongated slot 44. The hollow base 26 also has exterior supports 45 for the electric cables 22 and 24 at the base of each elongated slot 44. Each elongated slot 44 is closed by a thin frangible web 46 that facilitates the filling of the hollow base with the sealant material 20 while allowing the electric cables 22 and 24 to be pushed down into the elongated slots 44 for connection to the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 at a later time. The tops of the thin frangible webs 46 are preferably V-shaped and located below the top of the hollow base 26 by a small amount so that the thin frangible webs 46 position the electric cables 22 and 24 for connection to the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18. The thin frangible webs 46 are frangible by virtue of a vertical slit or score line 48 which causes the thin frangible webs 46 to split apart when the electric cables 22 and 24 are pushed down into the elongated slots 44 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The thin frangible webs 46 are also slightly V-shaped in the transverse direction and protrude outwardly as shown in Figure 4 so that the thin frangible webs 46 are spread apart outwardly of the hollow base 26 by the descending electric cables 22 and 24. The hollow base 26 further includes upper and lower external nibs 50 and 52 on each side wall. The upper nibs 50 hold the cover 28 in a partially closed position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 while the lower nibs 52 hold the cover in the fully closed position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. As indicated above, electric component package 10 includes insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 that are housed in the hollow base 26. The insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 are identical. Each is a U-shaped body comprising generally h-shaped end plates 54 spaced apart by laterally spaced straps 56 integrally attached at the upper end of the h-shaped end plates. Each h-shaped end plate 54 has parallel, laterally offset insulation displacement slots 58, 60 that open at the upper and lower ends of the h-shaped end plates 54 respectively. The upwardly opening insulation displacement slots 58 have lead-ins 62 that are shaped to receive the electric cables 22 and 24 and align their conductive cores with the narrow insulation displacement slots 58. The downwardly opening insulation displacement slots 60 have smaller lead-ins 64 that are shaped to receive the leads 36 of the electric component 14. The insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 also include tangs 66 at the lower ends of the h-shaped end plates 54 that are disposed between the retainer blocks 41 and the walls of the hollow base 26 that define the terminal cavities 39. The tangs 66 dig into the walls of the hollow base 26 to retain the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 in the terminal cavities 39 as best shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings. As indicated above the identical insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 are retained in the hollow base 26 in opposite orientations. Thus the insulation displacement slots 58 of insulation displacement terminal 16 at the one end of the hollow base 26 (the left end as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 5) align with the elongated slots 44 near one side of the hollow base 26 (the rear side as viewed in Figure 1) while the insulation displacement slots 58 of the insulation displacement terminal 18 at the opposite end of the hollow base 26 align with the elongated slots 44 near the opposite side of the hollow base 26. Consequently the insulation displacement terminal 16 makes an electrical connection with the electric cable 24 when it is pushed into the rearward set of elongated slots 44 and the insulation displacement terminal 18 makes an electrical connection with the electric cable 22 when it is pushed into the forward set of elongated slots 44. The cover 28 has means for engaging and pushing the electric cables 22 and 24 positioned on the hollow base 26 down into the elongated slots 44 of the hollow base 26 that comprises a pair of depending longitudinal rails 73. Opposite ends of the longitudinal rails 73 are slotted to accommodate the h-shaped end plates 54 of the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 as the longitudinal rails 73 of the closing cover 28 pushes the electrical cables 22 and 24 into the insulation displacement slots 58. When the cover 28 is fully closed as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the longitudinal rails 73 cooperate with the support means (end members 34e and towers 42) of the hollow base 26 to hold the electric cables 22 and 24 firmly and provide a strain relief. This strain relief is enhanced by the reaction of the split thin frangible webs 46 against the insulation jackets of the electric cables. The cover 28 has large windows 68 in each side wall that accommodate the upper and lower external nibs 50 and 52 of the hollow base 26 and provide a lock portion 70 that cooperates with the upper nibs 50 to hold the cover in the temporary partially closed position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 or with the lower nibs 52 to hold the cover 28 in the fully closed position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The cover 28 also has means to displace the sealant material 20 in the hollow base 26 when the cover 28 is in the fully closed position so that the fully closed insulator housing 12 is filled by a minimal amount of sealant material in the hollow base 26. This provides several benefits including a savings in the amount of sealant material required. Further since the hollow base 26 need not be filled with the sealant material 20, the tops of the thin frangible webs 46 are located and shaped to position the electrical cables 22 and 24 as indicated above and shown in Figure 1. Moreover the tops of the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 are exposed above the sealant material 20 even when the electrical component package 10 is partially closed as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Consequently the connection, polarity, and function of the electrical component 14 can be checked both before and after the application of the sealant material 20 and any time up to the attachment of the electrical component package 10 to the electric cables 22 and 24. The means to displace the sealant material 20 in the hollow base 26 comprises a central depending foot 72 and outer extensions 74 of the longitudinal rails 73. During closure of the cover 28, the outer extensions 74 engage inside the side walls of the hollow base 26 to align the cover 28 with the hollow base 26 for proper closure onto the electric cables 22 and 24 and when the cover 28 is fully closed, the central depending foot 72 engages and holds the electrical component 14 down onto the U-shaped cradle 34. The sealant material 20 is preferably a dielectric silicone gel that is poured into the hollow base 26 in liquid form and then cured either by heat or ultraviolet light. A suitable heat cured sealant material is Sylgard 527 which is a two component silicone that cures in place to form a cushioning, self-healing, resilient gel-like mass. One component may include a blue dye to facilitate handling and recognition during the manufacturing process. When this dye is added, the material is known as X3-4101. Sylgard 527 and the virtually identical X3-4101 are products of Dow Corning Corporation of Midland, Michigan, USA. A suitable ultravioletly cured sealant material is X3-4112 which is a single component silicone that cures in place to form a cushioning, self-healing resilient gel-like mass. This material also contains a blue dye but it changes to a yellow colour when cured to facilitate handling and recognition during the manufacturing process. X3-4112 is also a product of Dow Corning Corporation. The electrical component package 10 is assembled in the following manner. With the cover 28 in the open position as shown in Figure 1, the electrical component 14 is first loaded into the U-shaped cradle 34 of the component cavity 32 with its leads 36 being snapped into the slotted lead clips 38 located in the terminal cavities 39 at each end of the component cavity 32. The leads 36 are now positioned for connection to the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18 which are then loaded into the respective terminal cavities 39 engaging the leads 36 in the downwardly opening insulation displacement slots 60 to thereby establish electrical connections of the leads 36 with the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18. If desired an electrical check can be made at this time. The sealant material 20 is then poured into the hollow base 26 in liquid form to partially fill the hollow base 26 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The sealant material 20 is then heat or ultravioletly cured. If desired a second electrical check can be made at this time. The electrical component package 10 is now ready for field installation to the pair of electrical cables 22 and 24. The installation is made simply by positioning the electric cables 22 and 24 on the recessed V-shaped tops of the thin frangible webs 46 damming the elongated slots 44 and closing the cover 28 to push the electric cables 22 and 24 down into the elongated slots 44 and the upwardly opening insulation displacement slots 58 of the insulation displacement terminals 16 and 18. The cover 28 is preferably closed in two stages. That is, the cover 28 is initially moved to the partially closed position shown in Figures 5 and 6 manually; and then the partially closed cover 28 is fully closed as shown in Figures 2 and 3 with the assistance of a tool such as a pair of pliers. When the cover 28 is fully closed, the sealant material 20 in the hollow base 26 is displaced so that the insulator housing 12 is substantially filled with sealant material.

Claims: An electrical component package comprising an electrical component (14) having leads (36); an insulator housing (12) of thermoplastic material having a hollow base (26) and a cover (28), the hollow base having means (34) supporting and locating the electrical component longitudinally in a component cavity (32) and terminal cavities (39) at opposite longitudinal ends of the component cavity; insulation displacement terminals (16,18) having first and second insulation displacement slots (58,60), the first insulation displacement slot (58) of each insulation displacement terminal receiving an electrical cable (22,24) after the insulation displacement terminals are assembled into the respective terminal cavities; characterised in that the first and second insulation displacement slots (58,60) of each insulation displacement terminal (16,18) open in opposite directions; in that the hollow base (26) has means (34w,38,40) holding and positioning respective leads (36) of the electrical component (14) in the respective terminal cavities; and in that the second insulation displacement slot (60) of each insulation displacement terminal (16, 18) opens towards the bottom of said hollow base (26) such that it can receive one of the leads of a preloaded electrical component as the insulation displacement terminals (16, 18) are subsequently assembled into the respective terminal cavities (39). An electrical component package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means supporting and locating the electrical component (14) longitudinally in the component cavity (32) comprises a generally U-shaped cradle (34) in the hollow base (26). An electrical component package as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means holding and positioning the respective leads (36) of the electrical component (14) comprises a slotted lead clip (38) and support (40) that are longitudinally spaced from each other and disposed in each terminal cavity (39). An electrical component package as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slotted lead clips (38) serve to hold the electrical component (14) in the means (34) supporting and locating the electrical component. An electrical component package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hollow base (26) further includes means (41) for retaining the insulation displacement terminals (16,18) in the terminal cavities (39). An electrical component package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the terminal cavities (39) extend outwardly of the component cavity (32) in opposite lateral directions and receive identical insulation displacement terminals (16,18) in opposite orientations. An electrical component package as claimed in claim 6, wherein each end of the hollow base (26) has a pair of elongated slots (44) for receiving respective ones of a pair of electric cables (22,24) extending through the electrical component package. An electrical component package as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the elongated slots (44) are closed by thin frangible webs (46) that retain sealant material (20) poured into the hollow base (26) in liquid form, the thin frangible webs having V-shaped tops that are disposed below the top of the hollow base to position the electric cables (22,24) for connection to the insulation displacement terminals (16,18), and the thin frangible webs being V-shaped in lateral section and protruding outwardly so that the thin frangible webs are pushed apart in the outward direction when the electric cables are pushed down into the elongated slots. An electrical component package as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the cover (28) has means (73) for engaging and pushing the electric cables (22,24) down into the elongated slots (44) of the hollow base (26) and the first insulation displacement slots (58) of the insulation displacement terminals (16,18). An electrical component package as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for engaging and pushing comprises a pair of depending longitudinal rails (73) that are slotted at opposite ends to accommodate the insulation displacement terminals (16,18). An electrical component package as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hollow base (26) includes means (34e,42) for supporting the electric cables (22,24) and the longitudinal rails (73) cooperate with such means of the hollow base to hold the electric cables firmly and provide a strain relief when the cover (28) is fully closed. An electrical component package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the hollow base further includes means for supporting electric cables (22,24) comprising elevated end members (34a) of the means (34) supporting and locating the electrical component (14), and pairs of towers (42) at each end of the hollow base (26). An electrical component package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the hollow base (26) and the cover (28) have first means (50,68,70) to hold the cover in a partially closed position and second means (52,68,70) to hold the cover in a fully closed position. An electrical component package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each insulation displacement terminal (16,18) is a U-shaped body comprising generally h-shaped end plates (54) spaced apart by laterally spaced straps (56) integrally attached at one end of the h-shaped end plates, each h-shaped end plate having the first and second insulation displacement slots (58,60), which are parallel and laterally offset, and which open at said one and the other, opposite, ends of the h-shaped end plates for receiving the electric cables and the leads (36) of the electrical component (14) respectively. An electrical component package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the hollow base (26) has side walls (27) that are offset toward each other to reduce the volume of the component cavity (32), and wherein the cover (28) has means (72,74) to displace sealant material (20) in the hollow base (26) when the cover is in a fully closed position so that the fully closed insulator housing (12) is substantially filled by a minimal amount of sealant material in the hollow base. An electrical component package as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means to displace the sealant material (20) in the hollow base (26) comprises a central depending foot (72) of the cover (28) and outer extensions (74) of longitudinal rails (73) depending from the cover. An electrical component package as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outer extensions (74) engage inside side walls of the hollow base (26) to align the cover (28) with the hollow base for proper closure onto the electrical cables (22,24) and the central depending foot (72) engages and holds the electrical component (14) down in the component cavity (32).

Inventors: NEALE III FRANK THOMAS, VON SCHWERDTNER DETLEV HEINRIC, YURTIN JOHN ALLAN, NEALE III, FRANK THOMAS, VON SCHWERDTNER, DETLEV HEINRICH, YURTIN, JOHN ALLAN
Applicants: GEN MOTORS CORP, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R13