Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush.

The disclosure describes a high-power electrical connector providing blind-mating and an environmental sealing connector with a bus bar interfaces that features positional alignment and low friction mating. The electrical connector includes a receptacle with a bus bar electrically isolated from nearby connectors. The connector further includes a plug configured to mate with the receptacle. The plug includes several electrical contacts configured to make an electrical connection to the bus bar of the receptacle, when mated. Within the plug, tensioning device for each electrical contact applies a spring force to the contact. The electrical contacts are sized and positioned to match the bus bar geometry for balanced current flow and to avoid interface internal heating. The electrical connector of this disclosure may be desirable for application in which power electronics interface with other electronics.

A cavity plug for a plug assembly of an electrical connector having a housing defining contact receiving passageways includes a plug body, a cover support and a pin array. The cover support extends from the plug body in a first direction and is configured to support a connector cover that receives the housing. The pin array extends from the plug body in a second direction opposite the first direction and includes one or more blocking pins and one or more latching pins. Each blocking pin has a cylindrical body extending in the second direction and is sized for insertion into an associated contact receiving passageway of the plug assembly. Each latching pin extends in the second direction and is configured to cooperate with the plug assembly to inhibit separation of the cavity plug from the plug assembly.

A power cord includes at least one electrically insulated wire, including a wire conductor disposed within an insulated sleeve, and a connection terminal. The connection terminal includes a crimp portion crimped and soldered to the wire conductor at at least one end of the at least one insulated wire. The power cord further includes a heat shrink sleeve covering the crimp portion of the connection terminal and a portion of the insulated sleeve of the at least one electrically insulated wire, and an overmold molded around at least a portion of the heat shrink sleeve.

A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of power line sensing devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, the power line sensors can include a split-core transformer. In some embodiments, a power line sensing device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network. The sensing devices can be configured to measure and monitor, among other things, current and electric-field on the conductors. Methods of installing, sealing, and protecting the split-core transformers of the power line sensors are also discussed.

Systems and methods are provided for improving a contact condition between a charging cable and a charging port. A charging cable may be plugged into a charging power to charge an electrical device. A charging cable may include a plug which may mate with prongs of a charging port. The plug may include sensors and a vibrator. The sensors may detect when a user intends to plug the charging cable into the charging port. Upon detection of intent to plug the charging cable into the charging port. The vibrator may be activated and may vibrate the plug. The vibration may generate relative movement between the prongs of the charging port and the plug. The movement may release dirt, dust, and corrosive materials from the charging port and plug, resulting in increased cleanliness. The movement may also assist in forming a more secure connection between the charging cable and plug.

The disclosure relates to a shielded Y-shaped splice connector having a housing that includes a lower body, an upper cover, and three openings arranged to receive three cable fixing devices on the housing. The periphery of the lower body and the periphery of the upper cover are each formed of a flat surface arranged to form the contact surface of the lower body and the upper cover when the housing is assembled.

A power cord includes at least one electrically insulated wire, including a wire conductor disposed within an insulated sleeve, and a connection terminal. The connection terminal includes a crimp portion crimped and soldered to the wire conductor at least one end of the at least one insulated wire. The power cord further includes a heat shrink sleeve covering the crimp portion of the connection terminal and a portion of the insulated sleeve of the at least one electrically insulated wire, and an overmold molded around at least a portion of the heat shrink sleeve.

An attachment for cleaning a socket is provided including a body with an insertion section of the body for insertion into the socket along an insertion direction and with a connection section of the body for connection to a suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner, the attachment including at least one cleaning element for mechanical cleaning of an inner surface of the socket. The attachment includes at least one bearing element attached to the body, wherein the cleaning element is rotatably mounted on the bearing element relative to the body about an axis of rotation aligned along the insertion direction, and at least one drive element attached to the body for automatically rotating the at least one cleaning element about the axis of rotation. A method for cleaning a socket with the attachment is also provided.

Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush.