Connector for connecting conductors of a cable to flat conductors of a photovoltaic cell

US7824190B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG and PH · DE

Inventors

• Thorsten Beck · Mainburg, DE
• Klaus Holterhoff · Olpe, DE
• Matthias Boensch · Bielefeld, DE
• Klaus Pueschner · Detmold, DE
• Torsten Wuensche · Leopoldshöhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 29, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 29, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A connector arrangement connects the flat conductors that extend upwardly from a horizontal photovoltaic cell panel with the insulated conductors of a cable via the circuits of a printed circuit board, respectively. A flat conductor support member is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the horizontal photovoltaic cell panel and includes upwardly extending bridge portions having flat upper edges about which are reversely bent the upper free ends of the flat conductors. A hollow sectional connector housing includes a lower body section containing a bottom opening that receives the flat conductor support member when the lower body section is seated on the panel upper surface. Bifurcated resilient contacts mounted on the lower section have first portions that engage the bent flat conductor ends, respectively, and second portions that engage the circuits on a replaceable printed circuit board carried by the removable upper cover section of the housing.