A joint joins an alloy member to a ceramic member via a glass joining agent, which is joined to the alloy member by a material bonded joint and to the ceramic member by a further material bonded joint. The glass joining agent is made of a glass having a melting point below 800° C.; a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 9-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 and a bismuth content of at least 10%. The alloy member has a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 9-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1. The ceramic member has a maximum coefficient of thermal expansion of 8-10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1. The material bonded joint defines a mixing region that is a partial region of the ceramic member, and the bismuth content in the mixing region is higher than that of the ceramic member outside the mixing region.

A connector assembly can be easily and certainly attached to a surface of a substrate while having a simple configuration, and high airtightness or watertightness is certainly maintained to improve reliability. The connector assembly includes: a connector including a connector body, a terminal attached to the connector body, and a reinforcing metal fitting attached to the connector body, the connector being attached to a surface of a substrate; and a protective member including a pair of parallel first walls extending in a longitudinal direction of the connector body, a pair of parallel second walls extending in a width direction of the connector body, the pair of second walls being connected to both ends of each of the pair of first walls, and an opening in which four sides of periphery are defined by the first wall and the second wall, the protective member being attachable to the surface of the substrate with the connector accommodated in the opening. The protective member is placed on the surface of the substrate while coupled to the connector with the connector accommodated in the opening.

A connector includes: a connector body having an outer end and an opposing inner end, the connector body supported by a housing of a first device, wherein the outer end is exposed to an exterior of the housing and the inner end is placed within an interior of the housing; a signal conductor extending between the inner end and the outer end to engage with a complementary connector of a second device; a conductive resiliently deformable sleeve extending between the inner end and the outer end of the connector body, wherein the conductive resiliently deformable sleeve: (i) defines an electrically isolating shield that substantially encloses the signal conductor from the inner end to the outer end, and (ii) forms a seal against the second device encircling the signal conductor and the complementary connector.

A connector includes: a connector body having an outer end and an opposing inner end, the connector body supported by a housing of a first device, wherein the outer end is exposed to an exterior of the housing and the inner end is placed within an interior of the housing; a signal conductor extending between the inner end and the outer end to engage with a complementary connector of a second device; a conductive resiliently deformable sleeve extending between the inner end and the outer end of the connector body, wherein the conductive resiliently deformable sleeve: (i) defines an electrically isolating shield that substantially encloses the signal conductor from the inner end to the outer end, and (ii) forms a seal against the second device encircling the signal conductor and the complementary connector.

The seal spring of the present invention has a dual functionality. The seal spring provides both a sealing property and spring function in use within an electrical connector system, which is accomplished by its elastomeric qualities. The seal spring is preferably comprised of Silicone, EPDM rubber or materials and compositions that provide similar performance during use, or the like. The seal spring of the present invention is not limited or defined into a spring section or a seal section by its geometry. Shown is an implementation of the seal spring within an outer housing and connector assembly. The seal spring compresses and provides adequate spring force against a tab or tabs within the outer housing. The seal spring also functions as an interface seal and an environmental seal during use. The seal spring is, substantially, in its entirety, of a contiguous and continuous single construction. No part or section of the seal spring is made up of welded, soldered, or brazen part or section.

The present invention involves an outer housing, having a tab or plurality of tabs, the housing accommodating a seal (seal spring), a second outer housing, and a third outer housing. The tabs being conductive coated to provide an element or portion of a grounding scheme for a connector assembly containing the outer housing. The tabs make substantial contact with the third outer housing and complete a portion of the connector assembly grounding scheme. When the outer housing is provided with a seal spring, the seal spring provides more force, additional force, for higher contact pressure with the third outer housing than would be present without the seal spring.

The present invention involves a method for reducing the effect of electromagnetic interference (EMI) by providing EMI protection to a high voltage connector assembly, by employing a conductive outer housing, having a conductive tab or plurality of conductive tabs, the conductive outer housing also accommodating a seal (seal spring), a second outer housing, and a conductive third outer housing. The tabs being conductive coated to provide an element or portion of a grounding scheme for a connector assembly containing the outer housing. The conductive tabs make substantial contact with the conductive third outer housing and complete a portion of the connector assembly grounding scheme. The seal spring provides more force, additional force, for higher contact pressure with the third outer housing than would be present without the seal spring, resulting in better electrical conductivity between a conductive tab and the conductive third outer housing when in use.

A high voltage connector for an electrical vehicle is provided. The connector comprises a connector portion that includes an electrical pin and a protection member extending from a base and surrounding at least a portion of the electrical pin. The base, protection member, or a combination thereof contain a polyamide composition that includes from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of at least one polyamide, from about 10 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of inorganic fibers, and from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of a flame retardant system that includes at least one halogen-free organophosphorous compound. The polyamide composition exhibits a CTI of about 600 volts or more and a V0 rating at a thickness of 0.8 mm as determined in accordance with UL94.

The seal spring of the present invention has a dual functionality. The seal spring provides both a sealing property and spring function in use within an electrical connector system, which is accomplished by its elastomeric qualities, The seal spring is preferably comprised of Silicone, EPDM rubber or materials and compositions that provide similar performance during use, or the like. The seal spring of the present invention is not limited or defined into a spring section or a seal section by its geometry. Shown is an implementation of the seal spring within a conductive female housing and connector assembly. The seal spring compresses and provides adequate spring force against a disk ferrule assembly, pressing the disk ferrule assembly, with a wire shield, against a conductive female outer housing, providing a grounding scheme for the connector assembly. The seal spring also seals against the female outer housing and a wire.

A hermetically-sealed edge-connect header that can withstand high temperatures, high pressures (or high vacuum levels), and high vibration environments, along with two corresponding connectors are disclosed. After brazing the edge-connect header components, the assembly is machined to form a slot with a portion of each of a plurality of electrical conductors removed in the machining process, resulting in a header with a high pin density. During the process of mating the first connector design to the edge-connect header, a plurality of wipers in the connector deflect, thereby causing the wipers to extend from the connector and contact the corresponding electrical conductors in the header. During the process of mating the second connector design to the edge-connect header, each of a plurality of wipers formed of low-mass, compliant metal wool, forms multiple contact points with a corresponding electrical conductor in the header.