ITT Interconnect Solutions has developed high-temperature VEAM CIR connectors to address concerns for passenger safety on the European railway system "" specifically with regard to the new European standards CEN/TS 45545 governing fire railway safety. These regulations require a connector able to withstand exposure to high temperatures for a period of 15 minutes, where the exposure criteria are governed by the ISO 834-1 heating curve (maximum temperature of 800degC).
ITT's VEAM CIR connectors are able to withstand well over 15 minutes (they can survive for at least 30 minutes) of exposure to the ISO 834-1 mandated heating curve. The idea behind these standards and VEAM CIR is to ensure that the connectors remain active while the train moves away from the site of accident or fire. This guarantees that critical control signals remain viable without the need for complex technological systems.
Featuring a stainless steel shell and ceramic insulators, the VEAM CIR connectors are available with 35 size 12 poles rated at 40A. Further arrangements of 40 size 16 poles rated at 36A, and four size 16 poles (MVA line) will also be available in the near future. A silicon rubber grommet ensures sealing, and contacts with a metallic retention clip provide a high-integrity contact that will not release under extreme conditions of shock and vibration.
Typical applications - besides railway systems - include use as a transportation interconnect and in high-temperature environments where signal integrity is critical
The new connectors are detailed in an application note that can be downloaded from www.ittcannon.com.