DE2824032A1 - ELECTRIC CONNECTOR - Google Patents

Description

Priority: June 3, 1977; Great Britain; No. 23624/77; and 14 ·. April 1978; Great Britain; No. 14-721 / 78

The invention relates to electrical connectors.

At. Shortage of space, e.g. B. in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, it is sometimes desirable that electrical conductors extend from laterally aligned conductor connection parts of a Extend connector in the same lateral direction without interfering with each other.

An electrical connector according to the invention, having first and second conductor terminal portions extending from a contact part extending in the same longitudinal direction and spaced from each other in a lateral direction are mutually aligned, is characterized in that the conductor connection parts with different distances are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the contact part so that conductors connected to conductor connection parts emerge from the connector can be brought out in the same lateral direction without interfering with one another.

809850/5096

If the conductor connection parts are enlarged laterally, it is also due to the longitudinal displacement of the lexter connection parts allow them to be spaced closer together, thereby reducing the lateral width of the connector is possible.

In particular, it is provided that the first and the second lexter connection parts are separated from the first and second contact parts separate terminals, and that the terminals are arranged in first and second insulating housing modules, which are detachable from one another to form the connector are coupled, whereby the molding of the individual housing modules in one piece is simplified. Where * is for Adaptation of the modules to one another is provided that in the longitudinal direction of the housing modules complementary undercut Ribs and grooves run and releasably couple the housing modules to one another.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention is in the assembled Connector provided that the first and the second contact part between them a socket contact for receiving a tab or a printed circuit board.

The first and the second connection terminals and housing components can be of different lengths in order to achieve the To enable longitudinal displacement of the conductor connection parts, the first and the second contact parts to form the Socket contact are positioned opposite one another.

Due to the longitudinal displacement of the conductor connection parts, it is possible that a series of first and second connection terminals in rows in first BSW. second Gohaus building blocks is arranged with adjacent terminals in each row are closely spaced.

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Connector units can be designed so that they can be stacked one on top of the other are, the conductor connection parts are offset in the longitudinal direction and the socket contacts Extending in a common direction and receiving printed circuit boards that are parallel to each other and each other are arranged facing.

The longitudinal displacement of the conductor connection parts results in a high contact density along the edges of the printed circuit boards allows, and the circuit boards can be provided at close intervals, which is particularly desirable if they form the switching matrix of a junction box for a motor vehicle in which there is little space * .. By the offset also allows individual connector units to be sequentially connected to the printed circuit boards after the connection to the conductors has been made.

The conductor connection parts are z. B. formed generally in accordance with US Pat. No. 4,053,197. It is provided that each terminal is formed with two transverse resilient latching arms, with one edge of each latching arm can be brought into abutment behind a ramp surface formed in the housing module for locking the terminal in the Housing module and the opposite edges of the locking arms with a shoulder formed in the housing, which as Counter-stop in relation to conductor connection forces acts, can be brought into contact.

In a preferred development it is provided that the shoulders and the ramp surfaces are on opposite edges one formed in the YJandung of the housing module Release opening are trained.

809850/0896

According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is an electrical connector with a first and a second insulating housing component in which first and second connecting terminals, respectively are arranged, characterized in that the housing modules are coupled to one another so that first and second Contact parts of the first and second connection terminals form a socket contact with one another.

The invention also relates to an insulating housing module by itself.

The invention is explained in more detail, for example, with the aid of the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first terminal of the connector;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of a second connection terminal of the connector;

Fig. 4- is a perspective view of a socket for engaging lead terminal portions of the first and second J terminals;

Fig. 5 is a schematic front view of a connector housing;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross-section, of a connector housing assembly;

7 shows a longitudinal section through a second embodiment. shape of the connector according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a partial end view of the connector of Figure 7, partly in cross-section;

Figure 9 is a partial plan view of the connector of Figure 7j

10 shows a plan view of a connecting terminal of the connector according to Fig. 7; and

11 shows views of opposite ends of the connecting and 12 connecting terminal according to FIG. 10.

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The connector comprises two connector modules 11 and 12, respectively, which comprise multi-channel insulating housing modules 13 and 14, in which rows of first and second terminals 15 and 16 are arranged. The housing modules are detachable with the rear sides coupled to one another so that contact parts 17 and 18 of the respective terminals have a socket contact with one another form, and respective conductor connection parts 19 and 20 are offset in the longitudinal direction in order to lead out conductors 22, 23 connected to respective conductor terminal parts out of the connector in the same lateral direction without to allow disruptive mutual interference.

Each housing component is cast in one piece from plastic and comprises front and rear walls 25 and 26 or 27 and 28, which are arranged at a distance parallel to each other due to of two rows of transverse dividers 30 and 31 » so that first and second rows of passages 32, 33 are formed in which the terminals are arranged.

Longitudinal grooves and ribs 34 and 35 »die are swivel / alb tail-shaped in section, are formed and couple on the rear walls at points behind separating members the housing modules with each other. Similar grooves 37 can be formed in the front wall 26 of the second building block, see above that a third module can be coupled with it. Rest projections 38 are formed at the ends of the ribs.

The rear walls have at one contact end of the housing modules 27 and 28 a shorter length to form contact receiving openings 40 which communicate with each passage stand.

The rear wall of the second building block and the first wall of the first building block have conductor lead-out openings 41 and 42, respectively, clio are aligned with each other, but in the direction of Lünc;

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sets are.

The front walls of the housing blocks are bsw with locking ramps 42 * or 43 and shoulders 44. 45 on opposite Sides of clamping release openings 46 and 47 are formed. Clamp stops forming strips 49 and 50 are formed on respective front walls of the housings near the contact end. Outer shoulders 52 and 55 are on the respective front walls of the housing and form seating surfaces so that the connector unit interlocks with similar connector units is joinable.

Latching elements 55 for coupling the unit to the distribution box— housings can be attached to opposite end walls of a housing module be molded.

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The first and second terminals are each stamped from a single piece of sheet metal with contact parts 17 and 18, respectively and shaped, from which conductor connection parts 19 and 20 extend in the longitudinal direction. The contact parts have in each case essentially channel cross-section, two spring legs 60 are knocked out of the channel base, arched intermediate contact surface parts 61 project over the side walls, and feet 62 are behind extensions 63 of the upper edges of the Side walls that are bent over parallel to the channel base are returned.

The first and the second conductor connection part 19 and 20 have a short and a long flat plug 70 and 71, respectively, The free ends of which are designed to accommodate sockets as shown in FIG. For the purpose of connection with conductors the process disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,053,917. Such Bushings have two feed arms, which are from opposite Edges of a bottom part are rolled over and take the flat plug between them for the purpose of stripping and gripping

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an insulated conductor.

L-shaped latching arms 80 and 81 are arranged between the conductor connection parts and the contact parts of the two terminals. In the case of the first connection terminals, the locking arms are bent over from opposite edges of the flat connector base, and in the case of the second connection terminals, the latching arms 81 are of free ends of L-shaped lugs 82 which themselves are from opposite edges of the flat connector base are bent, bent.

For fastening the individual connection terminals in the housing components the terminals with the contact parts first in the corresponding through channels through the conductor connection ends the housing blocks pushed. The free ends of the locking arms slide with deflection over ramps 4-2 and 4-3 and jump into openings 46 and 47, and the front ends of the contact parts abut strips 4-9 and 50. Arched Sections 61 of the contact legs 60 now project through openings 4-0.

Then ground conductors to the terminals by means of the aforesaid Method connected en, with the shoulders 4-4, 4-5 counterstops for the generated during the connection Form forces.

Then the first and second connector modules are backed together by sliding the Rippenuid grooves connected until the locking projections 38 on the second Snap the housing module into place behind the first module. The contact parts 17 and 18 then lie opposite one another and define a socket contact which receives a printed circuit board 91 and separate terminals with opposite ends Pages of the same. The conductor connection parts 19 and 20 are expediently set forward in the longitudinal direction.

8098B0 / 0896

Several building blocks can be plugged together like a box, see above that the edges of printed circuit boards, which are arranged parallel to and facing each other, with each other can be connected; by offsetting the conductor connection parts, the conductors can be led out in same lateral direction without disturbing mutual interference possible. The detachable coupling of the housing components and the latching arrangement of individual terminals allows access to individual terminals and when necessary their exchange.

The individual building blocks of different lengths can be connected to one another as shown in FIG. 5, with a larger one Building block forms an additional support for the coupling between two smaller building blocks.

In the second embodiment of the connector, a terminal 71 is stamped and formed from a piece of sheet metal and includes a contact portion 72 which extends longitudinally from a conductor terminal portion 75. The contact part 72 has a flat holding section 74 and a pair of hairpin springs 75 with a first leg 76, - ^ which is connected at its root end to the holding section 7 ^ and by folding the sheet metal around longitudinal fold lines 77 on opposite sides of the holding section at the root ends is formed such that he. Above the holding portion 74 in contact with this, and second legs 78 extend from reversely bent ends 79 of the respective first legs 76 at a distance therefrom, the free ends 80 of the second legs 78 extending away from the conductor connection part. The second legs are arched away from the first legs to form arched contact surfaces 81, and each free end 80 is defined under a hook-shaped projection 82 which is bent away from the free end of the holding portion, the second

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Legs biased towards the respective first leg are.

A contact force that the second spring leg towards pushes to the first spring leg, causes a resilient bending of both spring legs. This allows the contact part in be shorter than a spring attached on one side with respect to comparable spring characteristics.

The conductor connection part consists essentially of one flat plug for inclusion in a socket terminal 98 for connection to a conductor in accordance with the U.S. Patent 4,053,197

Walls 84, 85 running in the longitudinal direction are bent over in such a way that that they protrude from opposite sides of the holding portion at locations, the adjacent opposite ends each fold line, creating duct sections for reinforcement purposes. A lanceolate tip 86 is knocked out of the holding section and runs to the Conductor connection part to secure the terminal in a connector housing 88.

The connector housing 88 comprises two housing modules, each of which is molded in one piece from plastic and which by interlocking of longitudinally extending complementary ribs and grooves 89 and 90, respectively, can be joined together, as a result of which a receiving slot 91 between the two modules is defined for a printed circuit board. Each housing module is designed with two spaced apart longitudinal channels 93, which receive the walls 84, 85 of a clamp inserted into the housing with the terminal contact part foremost "is inserted, so that the second spring leg into the circuit board receiving slot protrudes and defines an edge connector,

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AMP 3821 - 14 -

where the interconnecting components are connected to each other. Each housing module is designed with a resilient locking arm 92, which has a stop end 94- extending into a latching opening 95, and has a rearward-facing one Ramp surface 96. When inserting a clamp into a In the housing, the latching arm 92 is bent through contact at the tip 86 with minimal deflection of the locking tip, which can therefore be relatively stiff.

Plastic covers 97 are press fit onto the socket terminals 98 set after they have been connected to conductors.

The connectors are particularly advantageous in connection with the distribution box according to our own DE patent application P, wherein an end face of the junction box is attached to the partition wall of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle and all conductors leading to the connectors are led out in the same direction away from the partition have to.

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Claims (14)

Expectations Λ J An electrical connector, having first and second conductor terminal parts which extend from a contact part in the same longitudinal direction and are mutually aligned in a lateral direction at a distance from one another, characterized, that the conductor connection parts (19, 20; 73) at different distances in the longitudinal direction from the contact part (17, 18; 72) are positioned so that with conductor connection parts (19 »20; 73) connected conductors (22, 23) out of the connector in the same lateral direction without interfering with one another are feasible. 2. Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that that the first and the second conductor connection parts (19, 20; 73) differ from the first .bzw. second contact parts (17, 18; 72) separate terminals (15, 16; 71) extend. 3. Electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that that the terminals (15, 16; 71) in first and second Insulating housing modules (13, 14-; 88) are arranged, which are detachably coupled to one another to form the connector are. 109850/0896 Bayerische Vereinsbank 823101 Postal check 54782-809 4. Electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that that in the longitudinal direction of the housing modules (13, 14; 88) complementary undercut ribs and grooves (35, 34; 89, 90) run and the housing modules (13, 14; 88) releasably couple to one another. 5. Electrical connector according to one of claims 2-4, characterized in that that the first and the second contact part (17, 18; 72) between them a socket contact for receiving a flat plug or a printed circuit board (91). 6. Electrical connector according to one of claims 2-5, characterized in that a series of first and second connecting terminals (15, 16; 71) in rows in first or second housing modules (13, 14; 88) is arranged with adjacent terminals (15, 16; 71) in each row are closely spaced. 7. Electrical connector according to one of claims 2-6, characterized in that that the conductor connection texles (19, 20; 73) comprise flat plugs (70, 71) which are designed to be received in sockets (98) are, the conductors (22, 23) being gripped between the respective flat plugs (70, 71) and the ends of the sockets (98) and extend in a lateral direction from the connection terminals (15, 16; 71). 8. Electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that that the contact part (72) has a flat holding portion (74) and a hairpin spring (75) on v / eist, the first Leg (76), which at one root end with the holding portion (74) is connected L- and by folding over the sheet metal 809850/6898 material about a longitudinal fold line (77) at the V / urselende so that it lies over the retaining portion (74) in abutment therewith, and has a second leg (78) extending from a rearwardly bent end of the first leg (76) and spaced therefrom, with a free end (80) of the second leg (78) extending away from the conductor connection part (73). 9. Electrical connector according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that that from the holding section (74) a locking tip (86) is knocked out, which leads to the conductor connection part (73) extends and rests against a free end of a resilient locking arm (92) formed in the housing (88). 10. Electrical connector according to claim 3 or one of Claims 4-9 » characterized, that connector units are designed so that they can be stacked one on top of the other that the conductor connection parts (73) are offset in the longitudinal direction and the socket contacts extend in a common direction for receiving printed circuit boards (91) which are parallel to and facing each other are arranged. 11. Electrical connector according to claim 3 or one of claims 4-6, characterized, that each terminal (15 »16) is formed with two transverse resilient latching arms (80, 81), one The edge of each locking arm can be brought into abutment behind a ramp surface (42, 43) formed in the housing component (13, 14) is used to lock the connection terminal (15 »16) in the housing module (13> 14) and the opposite edges of the locking arms (80, 81) with one formed in the housing (15 »16) 809850/0896 Shoulder (44-, 4-5), which acts as a counterstop with respect to conductor connecting forces, can be brought into contact. 12. Electrical connector according to claim 11, characterized in that that the shoulders (44, 45; 80, 81) and the ramp surfaces on opposite edges of one in the wall (26, 27) of the Housing module formed release opening (40) are formed. 13. Electrical connector, having a first and a second Insulating housing module in which the first and second connection terminals are arranged, characterized, that the housing modules (13, 14) are coupled to one another are that the first and second contact parts (17 »18) of the first and second connecting terminals (15» 16) have a socket contact with one another form. 14. The housing module for an electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein the housing module is made in one piece Plastic is molded, has a cavity for receiving a terminal and a contact part through an opening protrudes in a rear wall of the block, characterized, that the rear wall (27, 28) can be coupled to a rear wall (28, 27) of a similar housing module (13, 14; 71) is, wherein openings (40) of the blocks are aligned with one another and the housing blocks (15 »14; 71) between them Slot to accept a printed circuit board (91) between each opening (40). 909350/6886