Motor stator and connector for making connections to stator windings

Claim 1

An electric motor assembly comprising a stator, at least two coil windings on the stator and a motor protector, the protector comprising a prismatic body having first and second protector terminal tabs extending therefrom, the windings having at least four winding ends, one of the winding ends being connected to the first protector tab, at least three of the winding ends and the second protector tab being connected to individual lead wires, the assembly being characterized in that: a stator connector is provided which is matable with a complementary connector, the stator connector comprising an insulating housing having a mating face, a rear face, oppositely facing first and second sidewalls, and oppositely facing endwalls, the housing being mounted on one surface of the stator with the first sidewall against the one surface of the stator, with the rear face adjacent to a portion of the windings, and with the mating face directed outwardly and away from the stator, at least four cavities extend into the mating face, each of the cavities having a connector terminal therein, the connector terminals each having a matable contact portion which is adjacent to the mating face and which is matable with a complementary matable contact portion, at least three of the connector terminals having a winding end connection portion, the fourth connector terminal having a tab receptacle portion, the at least three winding ends extending to the at least three connector terminals and being connected to the winding end connecting portions thereof, a protector pocket is provided which is integral with the rear face of the housing proximate to one of the endwalls, an additional cavity is provided which is integral with the housing adjacent to the one endwall and beside the protector pocket, the additional cavity having an additional terminal therein which has a tab receptacle portion and a winding end connecting portion, the protector being in the protector pocket with the first protector tab extending into the additional cavity and into the tab receptacle portion of the additional terminal, the one winding end extending into the additional cavity and connected to the winding end connecting portion of the additional terminal, the second protector tab extending from the protector body past the rear face and into the cavity containing the fourth connector terminal, the second protector tab extending into the tab receptacle portion of the fourth connector terminal, whereby the individual lead wires can be connected to complementary terminals in the complementary connector and upon mating the complementary connector with the stator connector, the lead wires will be properly connected to the winding ends and the second protector tab.