CN217468992U

CN217468992U - Electric connector with auxiliary locking device and corresponding electric connector kit

Info

Publication number: CN217468992U
Application number: CN202220970346.4U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李志琦; 孙德刚
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Nanjing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Nanjing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-04-21
Filing date: 2022-04-21
Publication date: 2022-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-04-21

Abstract

The application discloses an electric connector and a corresponding electric connector kit with an auxiliary locking device. An electrical connector according to the present application includes: a first connector housing for receiving a conductive terminal; a primary locking means for providing a mechanical locking between the first connector housing and a mating housing of another mating electrical connector, an auxiliary locking means for mounting on the first connector housing and being switchable between a pre-lock position and a final lock position, wherein the auxiliary locking means, in the final lock position, interferes with an unlocking operation of the primary locking means.

Description

Electric connector with auxiliary locking device and corresponding electric connector kit

Technical Field

The present application relates to an electrical connector apparatus, and more particularly, to an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device and a corresponding electrical connector assembly.

Background

Where electrical connection is required, electrical connection can be established through a plug connector and receptacle connector, the combination of which is commonly referred to as a connector assembly, and released when required. Plug connectors (plug connectors) typically include a housing in which one or more terminals can be mounted, each terminal having a mating end at one end and a tail end at the other end, the tail end being adapted to be connected to a wire by a suitable wiring means (e.g., crimping), and the other end of the terminal being a mating end for making an electrical and mechanical connection with a mating terminal in a mating receptacle connector (receptacle connector). The socket connector also comprises a plastic shell, wherein one or more terminals are arranged in the plastic shell, one end of each terminal is a plug-in end, and the other end of each terminal is a tail end. The plug connector plastic shell and the socket connector plastic shell are in a matching relationship, and meanwhile, the plug ends of the terminals in the plug connector and the plug ends of the terminals in the socket connector are also in a matching relationship.

After the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, the connection relationship may be released by an erroneous operation. Therefore, in some applications, it is desirable to have a further secondary locking mechanism to ensure that the plug and receptacle are not unlocked by mishandling.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The present application provides an electrical connector having an auxiliary locking device for providing a further locking after a plug and a socket of the connector are plugged, which further locking can help to prevent the plug and the socket from being unlocked due to misoperation.

According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided an electrical connector, comprising: a first connector housing for receiving a conductive terminal; a primary locking means for providing a mechanical locking between the first connector housing and a mating housing of another mating electrical connector, an auxiliary locking means for mounting on the first connector housing and being switchable between a pre-lock position and a final lock position, wherein the auxiliary locking means, in the final lock position, interferes with an unlocking operation of the primary locking means.

In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the primary locking device further includes one or more clamping cantilever arms formed on the first connector housing.

In the above-mentioned electric connector scheme, further, the clamping cantilever is used for clamping with a clamping gap formed on the mating housing, wherein, the unlocking operation of the main locking device includes applying force to the clamping cantilever to generate elastic deformation, thereby separating the clamping cantilever from the clamping gap.

In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, further, the auxiliary locking device includes a locking slider, the locking slider includes a main body portion, and slider suspension arms formed on two sides of the main body portion, and when the locking slider slides to a final locking position, the slider suspension arms interfere with an unlocking operation of the main locking device.

In the above-mentioned scheme of the electrical connector, further, the auxiliary locking device includes a locking slider, the locking slider includes a main body portion and slider suspension arms formed on two sides of the main body portion, and when the locking slider slides to a final locking position, the slider suspension arms move to positions adjacent to the clamping suspension arms, so as to interfere with elastic deformation of the clamping suspension arms, thereby preventing the unlocking operation of the main locking device.

In the above-mentioned scheme of the electrical connector, further, a sliding groove is formed in the main body portion of the locking slider, and a positioning protrusion is formed on the first connector housing, and when the locking slider is mounted on the first connector housing, the positioning protrusion is located in the sliding groove, so as to define a sliding stroke of the locking slider.

In the above-mentioned electric connector scheme, further, a locking head end is formed on the locking slider, a locking buckle is arranged on the first connector housing, and when the locking slider reaches the final locking position, the locking head end is clamped into the locking buckle to form a clamping relationship.

In the above-mentioned electrical connector, further, the locking head has a cantilever structure extending forward from the main body portion of the locking slider, and a substantially trapezoidal locking structure is formed at a distal end of the cantilever structure, where the trapezoid includes a first inclined surface, a second inclined surface, and an upper surface, and an inclination angle of the first inclined surface is smaller than that of the second inclined surface, so that a force to be overcome when the locking slider slides into the final locking position is smaller than a force to be overcome when the locking slider slides out of the final locking position.

In the above-mentioned scheme of the electrical connector, further, an elastic structure is disposed on the locking slider, a retraction limiting protrusion is disposed on the first connector housing, the retraction limiting protrusion has a vertical surface, and when the locking slider reaches the final locking position, a free end of the elastic structure abuts against the vertical surface of the retraction limiting protrusion, so as to limit retraction of the locking slider.

In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, further, the auxiliary locking device includes a lever pivotally mounted to the first connector housing, the lever includes a pair of mounting arms and a cross beam connected between the pair of mounting arms, and when the lever is pivoted to the final locking position, the extending structure of the tail end of the mounting arm forms a physical interference with the unlocking operation of the primary locking device.

In the above-mentioned electric connector, further, a fixing protrusion is provided on the first connector housing, a locking bayonet is provided on the beam of the lever, and when the lever is pivoted to the final locking position, the locking bayonet is assembled to the fixing protrusion.

In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the auxiliary locking device further includes a screw and a screw mounting portion formed on the housing of the first connector housing, a structure with an internal thread is provided in the screw mounting portion, and the screw is mounted in the screw mounting portion and moves up and down by means of the thread.

In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, further, when the screw moves to the final locking position, the screw rod of the screw physically interferes with the unlocking operation of the primary locking device.

According to another aspect of the present application, an electrical connector kit is provided, which includes a first connector, which is the aforementioned electrical connector, and a second connector mated with the first connector.

In the above scheme of the electrical connector kit, the first connector is a plug connector, and the second connector is a socket connector of a wire end or a board end.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device according to a first embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a locking slider according to a first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the locking slide of FIG. 2 in a pre-lock position.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the locking slide of FIG. 2 in a final locked position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device according to a variation of the first embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5A-5B are schematic views illustrating an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device according to a second embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6A to 6B are schematic views of the lever structure in this second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device according to a third embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In the following description, the present patent application is described with reference to various embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other alternative and/or additional methods, materials, or components. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present patent application. Similarly, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present patent application. However, the present patent application may be practiced without specific details. Further, it should be understood that the embodiments shown in the figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Embodiments and variations of the present patent application are further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an electrical connector 100 with an auxiliary locking device according to a first embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the electrical connector 100 includes a receptacle 120 and a plug 130. The socket 120 is in the form of a board-end header connector and may have an outer housing 121, and the outer housing 121 contains multiple terminals (5-way in fig. 1). One end of the outer plastic housing 121 is used for connecting with a plug, and the other end (tail end) can be used for wire connection. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the rear end of the outer plastic housing 121 of the socket 120 may be provided with an in-line terminal module, such as available from Phoenix electrical (Phoenix Contact). Of course, the present application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the tail end of the outer plastic housing 121 of the socket 120 may be formed with only a passage for the lead and the terminal to enter. The end of the wire is stripped and then crimped to the terminal, and then inserted through the channel at the tail end of the outer plastic housing 121.

The outer housing 131 of the plug 130 of the electrical connector 100 shown in fig. 1 has a suitable shape for being inserted into the outer housing 121 of the socket 120. This relationship in shape may be referred to as "mating". As shown in fig. 1, the outer plastic housing 131 of the plug 130 and the outer plastic housing 121 of the socket are provided with corresponding snap structures. The clamping structure includes clamping pieces 132 disposed at both ends of an outer plastic housing 131 of the plug 130, and clamping bases 122 disposed at both ends of an outer plastic housing 121 of the socket 120. The catching piece 132 is in the form of an elastically deformable catching cantilever 135 extending from the main body of the outer plastic case 131 to one side, and a catching protrusion 133 is formed at an outer side of the catching cantilever 135 (i.e., a side opposite to the main body of the outer plastic case 131). The snap protrusions 133 can mate with the snap notches 123 of the snap base 122 of the outer housing 121, so that when the plug 130 and the receptacle 120 are inserted into place, the snap protrusions 133 of the snap tabs 132 snap into the snap notches 123 of the snap base 122. The latching legs 135 of the latching tabs 132 have free ends, at which the pressing portions 124 are provided. When the plug and the socket are plugged, the clamping cantilever 135 of the clamping piece 132 can be elastically deformed in a certain space by applying a force towards the inner side to the pressing part 124, so that the clamping protrusion 133 is withdrawn from the clamping notch 123, and the mechanical locking between the clamping protrusion and the clamping notch is released. This locking arrangement, which is based on the latch tab 132 and the latch base 122, may be referred to as a primary lock arrangement.

The plug 130 shown in fig. 1 further has mounted therein an auxiliary locking device that is slidable between a pre-lock position and a final lock position. One exemplary implementation of the auxiliary locking device is a locking slider 200 shown in fig. 1, and the specific structure thereof will be described below with reference to fig. 2. The locked slide 200 in the prelock position and the final lock position will be described below with reference to fig. 3A and 3B.

One exemplary implementation of the locking slide 200 includes a plastic as shown in fig. 2. The locking slider 200 includes a generally flat main body portion 210, a pair of slide slots 220 formed in the main body portion 210, a pair of slider arms 230 on opposite sides of the main body portion 210, and a locking head 240 at the front end of the main body portion 210 (corresponding to the mating end of the plug 130). A barb 231 may be provided at the end of the slider suspension 230. The secondary locking device 200 may be mounted to the plug 130 by means of the slider suspension 230. The plug 130 may be provided with a positioning protrusion 135 (see fig. 3A), and when the locking slider 200 is mounted on the plug 130, the positioning protrusion 135 is located in the sliding groove 220, thereby defining the sliding stroke of the locking slider 200 and stabilizing the lateral position thereof during the forward and backward sliding. The plug 130 may further be provided with a locking catch 136 corresponding to the locking head 240.

In fig. 3A, the locking slide 200 is at a first end of travel defined by the positioning projection 135 (which may be referred to as a pre-lock position), and the locking head 240 and locking catch 136 are disengaged. When the locking slide 200 slides forward to the other end of the travel, the locking head 240 snaps into the locking catch 136, resulting in a more stable snap-fit relationship, which may be referred to as a final lock position. If the plug 130 has been inserted into the receptacle 120 before this time, the slider arms 230 are moved into position adjacent to the latch arms 135 by pushing the locking slider 200 into the final locking position, thereby taking up space for the elastic deformation of the latch arms 135 (or, the slider arms 230 interfere with the elastic deformation of the latch arms 135). Thus, the locking slide 200 in the final locking position further ensures that the connection between the plug 130 and the socket 120 is not released by malfunction.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the locking head end 240 of the locking slider 200 can be a cantilevered structure extending forward from the main body portion 210 of the locking slider 200, and a substantially trapezoidal locking structure is formed at the end of the cantilevered structure, which includes a first inclined surface 242, a second inclined surface 244, and an upper surface 246. The first ramp 242 may be longer (i.e., less inclined) than the second ramp 244 so that the force to be overcome to slide the locking slider 200 into the final lock position is less than the force to be overcome to slide the locking slider 200 out of the final lock position. A recess 248 may be formed in the upper surface 246. In operation, the engagement between the locking head 240 of the locking slider 200 and the locking catch 136 on the outer plastic shell of the plug 130 is released by a tool acting on the upper surface 246 (preferably, the recess 248) to deform the cantilever structure of the locking head 240 downward.

This additional locking, based on the interference provided by the slider suspension 230, may be referred to as a secondary locking feature.

It will be appreciated that in addition to the above described embodiments of fig. 1, 2 and 3A-3B, there are various variations: while the receptacle 120 is shown as a header at the board end, it will be appreciated that the plug 120 may be other forms of receptacles, such as a line-end receptacle; while the primary locking means are shown as a pair of tabs and notches formed on both sides of the plug and receptacle, it will be appreciated that the number and location of the primary locking means may vary, for example, the primary locking means may have only one pair of tabs and notches formed on the top side of the plug and receptacle (i.e., the side where the main body portion 210 of the locking slide 200 is located in the orientation shown in FIG. 1), or two pairs of rows formed on the top and bottom sides; the shape, mounting location and manner of providing interference of the secondary lock slide may be varied accordingly with variations in the primary locking means.

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the embodiment shown in fig. 1. This variant adjusts the locking design of the locking slide. The locking slide 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes a body portion 410 and a resilient structure mounted to the body portion 410, such as the illustrated spring plate 450 or other similar leaf spring structure. The outer plastic shell 131A of the plug 130A is provided with a final locking stroke limit 138 and a retraction limit protrusion 137. The retraction stopper protrusion 137 includes a slant surface and a vertical surface. When the locking slider 400 slides from the pre-lock position to the final lock position, the spring plate 450 contacts and slides on the inclined surface of the retraction restricting protrusion 137. When the locking slider 400 slides to the position contacting the final locking stroke limiter 138, the locking slider reaches the final locking position, and at this time, the free end of the spring plate 450 is disengaged from the inclined surface of the retraction limiter protrusion 137 and abuts against the retraction limiter protrusion 137 (i.e., the free end of the spring plate 450 abuts against the vertical surface of the retraction limiter protrusion 137), so that the locking slider 400 cannot be easily retracted.

Fig. 5A-5B are schematic views illustrating an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device according to a second embodiment of the present application. Fig. 6A to 6B are schematic views of the lever structure in this second embodiment. The secondary locking device of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment. Specifically, the auxiliary locking device in the second embodiment is a lever 500 (lever may also be called as a wrench). The lever 500 includes a pair of arms 520 and a cross member 530 connected between the arms. At the rear end of the arm 520 is a spindle mounting hole 505 and an extension 510. A pair of arms 520 of the lever 500 are pivotally mounted on the pivots 138 on both sides of the plug connector 130B through the pivot mounting holes 505. When the plug 130B and the receptacle 120B are plugged together, the locking bayonet 535 on the cross member 530 of the lever 500 can be fitted to the fixing projection 139 on the plug 130 by pushing the lever 500 from the pre-locking position shown in fig. 5A to the final locking position shown in fig. 5B (the end of its pivoting stroke), so that the extension 510 formed at the rear end of the arm 520 interferes with the elastic deformation of the catching cantilever 135 for unlocking.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of an electrical connector with an auxiliary locking device according to a third embodiment of the present application. The secondary locking device of the third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments. Specifically, the auxiliary locking device 700 of the third embodiment includes a screw 710 and screw mounting portions 720 (only one side is shown) formed at both sides of the housing of the plug 130C. A nut or other structure having an internal thread may be installed in the screw installation portion 720, and the separation preventing screw 710 may be installed in the screw installation portion 720 and may move up and down by means of the thread. When the anti-separation screw 710 is rotated to move to one end of the stroke (i.e., the final locking position), the screw thereof interferes with the elastic deformation of the clamping cantilever 135 for unlocking. By rotating the retaining screw 710 in the reverse direction and moving it backward, the interference of the screw with the unlocking operation of the engaging arm 135 can be eliminated.

In the above, various auxiliary locking means are described as constituent members of the plug connector. It is understood that the auxiliary locking device can also be implemented on the socket connector, and the application is not limited thereto.

Having thus described the basic concept, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing disclosure is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the present patent application. Various modifications, improvements and adaptations to the present application may occur to those skilled in the art, although not explicitly described herein. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be suggested in this patent application and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

a first connector housing for receiving a conductive terminal;

primary locking means for providing a mechanical lock between the first connector housing and a mating housing of another mating electrical connector,

an auxiliary locking device for mounting on the first connector housing and being switchable between a pre-lock position and a final-lock position, wherein the auxiliary locking device interferes with an unlocking operation of the primary locking device when in the final-lock position.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said primary locking means comprises one or more snap cantilevers formed on said first connector housing.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the latch arms are configured to latch with latch notches formed in the mating shell, and wherein unlocking the primary locking mechanism comprises applying a force to the latch arms to elastically deform the latch arms to disengage the latch notches.

4. The electrical connector of any of claims 1-2, wherein the secondary locking device comprises a locking slider including a main body portion and slider arms formed on both sides of the main body portion, the slider arms interfering with an unlocking operation of the primary locking device when the locking slider is slid to a final locking position.

5. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary locking device comprises a locking slider, the locking slider comprises a main body portion, and slider suspension arms formed on both sides of the main body portion, when the locking slider slides to the final locking position, the slider suspension arms move to be adjacent to the clamping suspension arms so as to interfere with the elastic deformation of the clamping suspension arms, thereby preventing the unlocking operation of the main locking device.

6. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the body portion of the locking slider has a sliding slot, and the first connector housing has a positioning protrusion, wherein the positioning protrusion is located in the sliding slot when the locking slider is mounted on the first connector housing, thereby defining a sliding stroke of the locking slider.

7. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the locking slider has a locking head formed thereon, and the first connector housing has a locking buckle formed thereon, wherein when the locking slider reaches the final locking position, the locking head is clamped into the locking buckle to form a snap-fit relationship.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the locking head has a cantilevered structure extending forwardly from the body portion of the locking slider, and a substantially trapezoidal locking structure is formed at a distal end of the cantilevered structure, the trapezoidal shape including a first sloped surface, a second sloped surface, and an upper surface, the first sloped surface having a smaller angle of inclination than the second sloped surface, such that a force to slide the locking slider into the final locking position is less than a force to slide the locking slider out of the final locking position.

9. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the locking slider has a resilient structure (450) and the first connector housing has a retraction limiter protrusion, the retraction limiter protrusion having a vertical surface, and when the locking slider reaches the final locking position, a free end of the resilient structure abuts against the vertical surface of the retraction limiter protrusion to limit retraction of the locking slider.

10. The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the secondary locking device comprises a lever (500) pivotally mounted to the first connector housing, the lever including a pair of mounting arms and a cross member connected between the pair of mounting arms, the extending structure of the tail end of the mounting arms physically interfering with an unlocking operation of the primary locking device when the lever is pivoted to a final locking position.

11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the first connector housing is provided with a securing projection (139), and the beam of the lever is provided with a locking bayonet (535), the locking bayonet fitting to the securing projection when the lever is pivoted to the final locking position.

12. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the auxiliary locking means comprises a screw (710) and a screw mounting portion (720) formed on the housing of the first connector housing, the screw mounting portion having an internally threaded structure therein, the screw being mounted in the screw mounting portion and moved up and down by means of the screw thread.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the screw shaft of the screw physically interferes with the unlocking operation of the primary locking device when the screw is moved to the final locking position.

14. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first connector being an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1-13;

a second connector mated with the first connector.

15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the first connector is a plug connector and the second connector is a wire end or board end receptacle connector.