EP0550334B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector.

The invention relates to a connector comprising a first housing element containing a number of electrical connection members and a second housing element containing complementary connection members so that when the housing elements are joined together, electrical connections are established.

Generally, in particular in automobile construction, wiring is carried out comprising a certain number of conductors which comprise, at one end, electrical connection members, these members being in small numbers six or eight housed in housing elements on which are mounted complementary housing elements corresponding to the various devices to be supplied. This leads to the provision of a certain number of connectors, especially since certain electrical devices require different intensities. It is difficult to make connectors having a large number of electrical connections because the coupling of the housing elements requires a great deal of effort and uncoupling is also difficult.

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a connector which makes it possible to receive a very large number of electrical connections, with different intensities and the coupling and uncoupling of which are easy.

American patent US-A-4 954 085 discloses an electrical connector whose housing elements are assembled by a screw / nut system so that the tightening of the screw causes sliding of one of the elements relative to the other . The connector according to the invention differs mainly from the connectors of the prior art in that the nut is slidably mounted in the corresponding housing element.

The connector according to the invention is of the type comprising a first housing element containing a number of electrical connection members connected to electrical conductors and having a housing in which a corresponding end of a second connection element is inserted. housing containing electrical connection members connected to electrical conductors intended to cooperate with the electrical connection members of the first housing element and means for fixing the elements together, one of the housing elements of said connector is integral, in its central part, with a sleeve, one end of which, intended to be turned opposite the other element housing, is terminated by a collar, while the other end has, at least, a longitudinal slot extending to an intermediate point of the length of the sleeve, in the latter being slidably mounted a nut with a cylindrical skirt and having, at least, a radial fin intended to cooperate with the slot, means for retaining the nut being provided for said sleeve, the other housing element being integral in its central part with a sleeve whose end , intended to be turned opposite the first housing element, is terminated by a collar, said sleeve of said other housing element having, at its end adjacent to the collar, a bore do nt the internal diameter corresponds to that of the skirt of the nut, said bore being connected to a second bore of smaller diameter and in which is slidably mounted a screw having a head guided in a third bore and connected to the second bore by a shoulder, the free face of the head having an imprint for taking a tool.

Thanks to such an arrangement, it is possible, without effort, to assemble the housing elements, these may include a large number of electrical connection members. In addition, the engagement of the skirt in the first bore constitutes a centering ensuring regular engagement of the corresponding end of one of the elements in the housing of the other. Finally, at the end of tightening the screw, the collars come into contact and limit the engagement of the end of one of the housing elements in the housing of the other.

According to a constructive detail, the nut retaining means consist of a stop segment such as a circlip housed in a groove in the sleeve.

Preferably, the third bore of the sleeve of the other housing element comprises means for retaining the head of the screw.

According to a constructive detail, the third bore comprises a thread intended to receive a hollow screw constituting the means for retaining the head of the screw.

According to yet another characteristic, the distance separating the hollow screw from the circlip is less than the total length of the assembly of the screw from the head at its free end and from the nut from its free end to its end turned towards the circlip. Thus, during the loosening of the screw, the head of the latter abuts on the hollow screw, while the skirt of the nut abuts on the circlip, so that the housing elements move apart from each other. This provides a simple and rapid means of uncoupling the housing elements.

To facilitate the engagement of the screw in the nut, the end of the screw opposite the head has a centering portion of smaller diameter.

To facilitate the engagement of the nut in the first bore, the end of the nut, intended to engage in the first bore, has an external diameter less than the diameter of said bore.

According to a particular characteristic, the first housing element comprises series of channels each comprising grooves for guiding slides of series of organ holders of electrical contacts, each organ holder comprising a floor from which a series of parallel partitions terminated by a bevel and delimiting between them conduits intended to each receive a connection member, the partitions being terminated in the vicinity of the free edge of the floor by a stop, while on the side opposite to the bevel, the partitions comprise an integral extension from a background, from which extends, opposite each conduit, an elastic bar having on its face opposite the conduit a projection, the connection members being made from a metal strip good conductor of electricity cut and folded to present , at one end, means for fixing it to an electrical conductor and, at the other end, a floor wall with an extension folded in a hairpin to form an elastic tongue, and two side walls terminated by flaps to form a sort of duct with rectangular section, the floor wall being pierced with an opening intended to receive the projection of the elastic bar, and the second housing element comprising a series of channels each having grooves intended to receive the door slides - electrical contact members identical to those housed in the channels of the first housing element, but turned head spade upside down, means being provided to block said organ holders in the channels of the two housing elements.

According to a constructive characteristic, the floor of each electrical contact member holder comprises, on the one hand, in the vicinity of its free end, lugs, and, on the other hand, a transverse rib, while the channels of the elements of housing have transverse spacers constituting stops for the ribs and having notches intended to receive the pins. Thus, the electrical contact organ holders are perfectly blocked in the channels.

Preferably, the housing elements comprise latches constituted by bars mounted sliding in conduits, transversely to the guide grooves of the slides of the electrical contact organ holders, said bars laterally having notches intended to coincide with the grooves to allow the passage of the slides, and means being provided for wedging said latches in two positions, one position in which the grooves are closed and a position in which the grooves are released.

According to a constructive detail, the transverse spacers comprise ribs intended to cooperate with the elastic bars.

Thus, when the connection members are housed in the electrical contact carriers, the latter being inserted in the channels, the elastic bars for retaining the connection members are blocked and said members cannot be used.

The electrical connection members being turned upside down, it is desirable for them to fit into each other that the extensions are first applied against each other, then they are moved towards each other so that each extension of an organ is inserted between the extension of the other and the elastic tongue. To allow such movements, the housing of the first housing element comprises, along one of its first edges, two ramps inclined towards the inside of the housing and along an edge opposite the first two ramps, while the end of the second housing element, intended to be inserted in the housing, has on its edge intended to cooperate with the ramps of the first edge two protuberances extended by guide grooves. Thus, during the assembly of the two housing elements, the extensions are first brought one above the other, then applied to each other and finally inserted into each other.

According to another characteristic of the invention, one of the housing elements comprises additional channels intended to receive cases having a series of conduits intended to receive each male electrical contact member, while the other housing element comprises corresponding additional channels intended to receive cases presenting a series of conduits intended to each receive a female electrical contact member.

According to a particular constructive characteristic, the case intended to receive the male electrical contact members, comprises in each conduit an elastic tab provided with a lug intended to cooperate with an opening of a male electrical contact member, said case being provided of an elastic locking bar, while the channel intended to receive said case comprises means combined with the elastic locking bar to maintain the case in two positions, a waiting position in which the male electrical contact members can be put in place and a locking position in which the elastic tabs are locked.

According to another constructive characteristic, the case intended to receive the female electrical contact members comprises in each conduit elastic bars intended to cooperate with a shoulder of said female organs, these being provided with elastic tongues intended to cooperate with stops of conduits formed in a projection of the corresponding channel which comprises means conjugated with an elastic bar for locking the case to maintain the latter in two positions, a waiting position in which the female electrical contact members can be put in place and a locking position in which the elastic bars are locked.

Preferably, the first housing element has two screws for fixing it to a wall.

The second housing element comprises a ring carrying, on one face, a seal intended to cooperate with a flange of said housing element and, on its other face, a lip seal intended to bear against the wall on which the first element is mounted case.

Preferably, the ring is provided with elastic tabs which fit into openings in the second housing element.

The connector may include a cover for masking the face of the second housing element opposite to that facing the first housing element and comprising a hole for the passage of a tool for taking the screw.

In order to avoid damaging the electrical conductors during the assembly of the two casing elements, the cover comprises in the vicinity of the hole a point for disengaging the electrical conductors from the axis of the hole.

Finally, according to a last characteristic, the cover comprises a tubular element with a movable flap for receiving and enclosing a protective sheath of the electrical conductors.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a particular embodiment given by way of example only and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to the invention.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 are perspective views of one of the housing elements.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a case intended to be placed in one of the channels of the housing element of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view with cutaway showing the case of Figure 4 with a male contact member in place.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the positioning of the case and of the corresponding male members in the channel of the housing element of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIGS. 6A, 7A and 8A are schematic plan views showing the relative positions of the locking tab and the projections in the different positions corresponding to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

Figure 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an electrical contact organ holder.

Figure 11 is still a perspective view of an electrical contact organ holder.

Figure 12 is a sectional view along line 12-12 of Figure 10.

Figures 13 and Figure 14 are perspective views of the second housing member.

Figure 15 shows in perspective with a cutaway a case intended to be mounted in the second housing element of Figures 13 and 14.

Figure 16 is a sectional view along line 16-16 of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the seal assembly intended to be mounted on the second housing element of Figures 13 and 14.

Figure 18 and 19 are perspective views of the end cover.

Figures 20, 21 and 22 are sectional views, substantially along the line 20-20 of Figure 1 and showing the assembly of the various electrical contacts during assembly of the two housing elements.

Figure 23 is a sectional view through an axial vertical plane showing the assembly of the two housing elements.

Figure 24 shows in section the two housing elements definitively assembled.

Figure 25 and Figure 26 show in section the uncoupling of the two housing elements.

The connector shown in the various figures comprises a first housing element designated by the general reference 1, a second housing element 3 comprising a seal assembly 2 and an end cover 4.

The first housing element 1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) consists of an insulating plastic body of generally parallelepiped shape with a peripheral flange 5.

The first housing element 1 comprises, on the side of a face 15, a skirt 6 in which are delimited channels 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in the central part being embedded a metal sleeve 13 which, from the side of the face 15 has two diametrically opposite axial slots 16. In the vicinity of the end of the sleeve 13 provided with the slots 16, there is provided a groove 17 in which is housed a circlip 18 for retaining a nut 19 extended by a skirt 20 provided with fins 21 intended to cooperate with the slots 16. The free end of the sleeve 13 is terminated by a collar 23 flush with the surface of the element 1 on the side of a face 25 opposite the face 15.

The first housing element 1 has two embedded screws 26 which allow it to be fixed to a support such as a sheet blank in which an opening is made beforehand for the passage of the second housing element 3. Between the sheet blank and the flange 5 can be interposed an insulating thickness like that provided in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Channels 7, 8, 11 and 12 are intended to receive series of supports for organ holders of electrical contacts 28, while channels 9 and 10 are each intended to receive a case 30 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).

The cases 30 are formed from a substantially parallelepipedal block having four conduits 31 each intended to receive a male electrical contact member 32 constituted by a flat tongue having an opening 33 and, at one end, crimping lugs 34 for fixing 'an electrical conductor 35.

Each duct 31 has an elastic tab 36 provided with a lug 37 intended to be inserted in the opening 33 to ensure the fixing of the tongue 32.

One of the faces of the case 30 comprises an elastic locking bar 38 which comprises, at its free end, a notch 39 and in front of this notch, laterally, two fingers 40, said elastic bar 38 being provided with a digging 41 located in front of the notch 39.

The channels 9 and 10, on their faces 9a and 10a, are provided near their free edge with two projections 42 for cooperating with the fingers 40, a projection 43 is provided on the same walls, but located deeper into the canals.

Each case 30, at one end, is terminated by an extension 44 of rectangular section at the end of which the tongues 32 protrude, in these extensions being provided laterally with slots 45 facing which extend the elastic tabs 36.

Each channel 9 and 10 is terminated by a series of conduits 46 (see FIGS. 2 and 9) having a rectangular section corresponding to that of the extensions 44, each conduit laterally comprising an edge 47 intended to engage in the corresponding slot 45.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 clearly show the positioning, on the one hand, of the cases 30 in the channels 9 and 10, and, on the other hand, of the tongues 32 in their respective ducts 31.

Initially, the cases are engaged and the hollow 41 abuts against the projection 43 thus limiting the engagement, the fingers 40 coming to be placed behind the projections 42 (FIGS. 6A and 7A). The cases 30 are thus immobilized in the channels 9 and 10. The tongues 32 are then placed in the conduits 31 by means of an elastic deformation of the lugs 36 until the lugs 37 engage in the openings 33 (Figures 6 and 7).

It will be noted that in the positions shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 6A and 7A, the free end of the locking bar 38 remains projecting at the corresponding end of the channels 9 and 10. When the tabs 32 are put in place , the locking bar 38 is pressed in order to release the projection 43 from the hollow 41 and the cases 30 are pushed in fully, the extensions 44 coming to be housed in the conduits 46, while the edges 47 are inserted in the slots 45 and bear against the elastic tabs 36 (see FIG. 9).

In this position (see FIG. 8A), the projections 43 are housed in the notches 39 so that the cases 30 are perfectly locked. It is understood that the tongues 32 can not be removed because the elastic tabs 36 can no longer play. It is also not possible, in this position of the cases, to place the tabs 32.

In Figures 10, 11 and 12, there is shown the electrical contact member carriers 28. These electrical contact member carriers are made of insulating plastic and include an elongated body with a floor 50 and two side walls 51. From from the floor 50 a series of parallel partitions 52 are erected defining between them conduits 53 intended to each receive a connection member 55.

The partitions 52 end at one end with a bevel 54 connected to the floor 50 by a stop 56.

On the side opposite to the bevel, the partitions 52 have extensions 57 integral with a bottom 58, from which extends, facing each conduit, an elastic bar 59 having on its face turned opposite the conduit, a projection 60.

On the floor 50 two lugs 61 are provided and the extensions 57 slightly exceed the level of the floor 50 and are connected to the latter by a rib 49.

The connection members 55 have a floor wall 66 with an extension 67 folded in a hairpin to form an elastic tongue 68 and two side walls 70 terminated by flaps 71 to form a sort of duct with rectangular section.

Such an organ can be used with an identical organ turned upside down, upside down, to make an electrical connection, the floor 66 and the extension 67 of one being inserted between the extension 67 and the elastic tongue 68 of the other and vice versa (see Figure 12).

The member 55 includes crimping lugs 64 for fixing it to the end of a conductor 65 and, in the vicinity of said lugs, the floor is pierced with an opening 63.

The members 55 are engaged in the conduits 53 and the ends of the flaps 71 come to bear against the stops 56, while the projections 60 are inserted into the openings 63.

The side walls 51 of the electrical contact member carriers are each provided with a slide 69 intended to cooperate with a groove 72 in the side walls of the channels 7, 8, 11, 12.

The grooves 72 are, on the side of the face 15 of the first element 1 (see FIG. 2) connected by transverse spacers 73 having notches 62 and ribs 74. The notches 62 are arranged so as to receive the pins 61 while the ribs 74 are arranged to bear against the elastic bars 59.

When the electrical connection member carriers 28 are put in place, the slides 69 are guided in the grooves 72, while the ribs 74 are placed in line with the bars 59, the rib 49 abutting against the corresponding transverse spacer 73 , while the pins 61 are housed in the notches 62. Thus, the electrical connection member carriers 28 are perfectly locked, as are the members 55 since the bars 59 can no longer play, being retained by the ribs 74.

In the embodiment shown, each channel 7, 8, 11 and 12 can receive three organ holders for electrical connections 28, these being stacked in each channel and all these organ holders 28 being turned in the same direction.

On the side of its face 25, the first housing element has a housing 76 which is intended to receive the corresponding end of the body 77 of the second housing element 3.

The second housing element 3 on two opposite sides of its body 77 has two ramps 79 in which openings 80 are made.

The seal element 2 (see FIG. 17) consists of a ring 78 of rigid plastic material which, on one face 81 has a groove 82 in which is housed a flexible and elastic seal 83, while the other face 86 has a groove 84 receiving a lip seal 85.

The ring 78, on each of two opposite faces of its internal surface, comprises two elastic tabs 87 intended to cooperate with the ramps 79 and to be housed in the openings 80 to ensure the fixing of the ring 78 on the body 77.

The seal 83, when the ring is in place, is pressed against a peripheral flange 88 of the housing element 3.

The flange 88 has tabs 89 terminated by hooks 90 intended for fixing the cover 4 (see FIGS. 18 and 19).

The cover 4 assumes the shape of a bowl with a central hole 93 for the passage of a tool such as a screwdriver, in the vicinity of this hole being provided a tip 95 allowing, during the establishment of the cover, d '' move aside the conductors in order to avoid possible damage to said conductors when engaging the tool.

The cover 4 has a peripheral rim 96 in order to allow the collar 88 to be fitted together, the said cover 4 having loops 97 in which openings 98 open in order to allow the passage of the legs 89 and the fixing by the hooks 90 engaged. in the openings 98.

The cover 4, laterally, comprises a tubular element 99 intended to receive one of the ends of a sheath for protecting the conductors.

The tubular element 99 comprises a movable flap 100 articulated along a flexible strip 101 and having hooks 102 intended to engage in openings 103.

There are also provided, in the vicinity of the strip 101, hooks 104 intended to engage in openings 105 to prevent, in the event that the flexible strip 101 is damaged, that the flap 100 may come off unexpectedly.

It is understood that the protective sheath of the conductors can easily be put in place after opening the shutter 100 and that after closing the latter it is trapped in the tubular element 99.

The housing element 3 comprises, in its embedded central part, a sleeve 107, one end of which opens onto the face intended to coincide with the first housing element 1 is terminated by a collar 108 intended, when the housing elements are assembled bear against the collar 23. The sleeve 107, on the side opposite the collar 108, has a thread 109 intended to receive a hollow screw 111 for retaining a screw 112.

The screw 112, at one end, has a head 113 with an imprint, while its other end is terminated by a centering portion 114 of smaller diameter.

The hollow screw 111 may internally have grooves, a hexagon or the like allowing it to be taken with a tool. The digging of the screw 111 crosses it right through to allow the passage of a screwdriver intended to cooperate between the imprint of the head 113.

The sleeve 107 (see FIGS. 23 to 26) has, adjacent to the collar 108, a first bore 117 whose diameter corresponds to that of the skirt 20 of the nut 19, a second bore 116 whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the screw 112 and a third adjacent bore 115, the diameter corresponds to the external diameter of the head 113.

The bore 115 and the bore 116 are connected by a shoulder 118 against which a washer 110 is applied.

The housing element 3 (see FIG. 13) has six channels 119 to 124, the channels 119, 120, 123 and 124 are arranged in the same way as the channels 7, 8, 11 and 12 and are intended to receive electrical contact organ holders 28 fitted with contact members 55, however these organ holders 28 are placed upside down with respect to those of the housing element 1 so, when the elements 1 and 2 are assembled, that the members 55 cooperate with one another to provide the electrical connection, as has been explained for the description of FIGS. 10 to 12.

To facilitate understanding of Figures 20 to 26, the organs holder 28 and the electrical contact members 55 have been designated by the references 28 a and 55 a respectively.

The channels 121 and 122 are each intended to receive a case 126 (see Figures 15 and 16).

Each case 126 consists of a body of plastics material of generally parallelepiped shape with a floor wall 127, two side walls 128 and 129 and a ceiling wall 130. Each case 126 is provided with four conduits 131 which are delimited by partitions 132. The partitions 132 extend from one end 133 of the case 126 from which female contact members es 135 are introduced to an intermediate point of the conduits 131 from which the partitions are extended on the side from the floor wall 127 by ribs 136 and from the side of the ceiling wall by ribs 137.

Opposite each rib 136, an elastic bar 139 is provided, having, in the vicinity of its free end, a lug 140.

Opposite each rib 137, an elastic bar 141 is provided, comprising, in the vicinity of its free end, a lug 142.

The elastic bars 141 and 139 as well as the ribs 136 and 137 are oriented so as to form at the end of the case 126 opposite that 133 for introducing the members 135 a narrowing, an opening 143 being formed between the bars 139 and 141 and the ribs 136 and 137.

The member 135 comprises an elastic clamp 144 formed by two metal strips good conductors of electricity 145, 146 applied one against the other with a flared entry and whose elastic action is reinforced by two plates 147 and 148 applied on the external faces of the clamp 144. On the side opposite the flared entry, the member 135 comprises lugs 149 for crimping an electrical conductor 150, the lugs 149 being connected to said member by a shoulder 151 and tabs of lock 152 being provided on two opposite sides.

The ceiling wall 130 of the case 126 comprises an elastic locking bar 154 of the same type as the bar 38 and having two lateral fingers 155, a hollow 156 and a notch 157.

The channels 121 and 122, on the side of the introduction of the cases 126, comprise two projections 158 intended to cooperate with the fingers 155 in a pre-locking position and a projection 159 which, in this latter position, is housed in the hollow 156 , said projection 159, cooperating with the notch 157, ensuring the locking of the case 126.

Each channel 121, 122, on the opposite side to that through which the case 126 is introduced, is closed by a projection 160 (see FIG. 16) pierced by four conduits 161 having, on two opposite walls, stops 162, the conduits s opening onto a slot 166 intended to allow the engagement of the male tabs 32. The projection 160 forms, on the side of the introduction opening, cases 126 in the channels 121 and 122, bosses 163 which come, when the cases are mounted, located to the right of the partitions 132 in the opening 143. The bosses 163 have two ribs 164 and 165 which are placed, in the locking position of the case 126, between the elastic bars 139 and 141 of the side of the face thereof opposite to that comprising the pins 140 and 142 respectively.

As for the mounting of the tongues 32, the case 126 is first engaged in a pre-locking position, that is to say, the fingers 155 come to be placed behind the projections 158, the female members 135 being engaged in the conduits 131. During this introduction, the body of the members 135 resiliently spreads the bars 139 and 141 until the shoulder 151 comes to lodge behind the pins 140 and 142. Thus, the members 135 are maintained and cannot no longer be removed. The cases 126 are then pushed so that the projection 159 which was housed in the hollow 156 comes to be placed in the notch 157.

The cases 126 advance the members 135 so that the retaining tabs 152 are received against the stops 162. Thus the members 135 are perfectly locked, because in addition, the ribs 165 are inserted between the ribs 137 and the bars 141 and the ribs 164 between the ribs 136 and the elastic bars 139 so that the elastic bars 139 and 141 can no longer play.

The first element 1 comprises, along one of the edges of the housing 76 intended to receive the end of the body 77 of the second housing element 3, two ramps 167 which have a steep part 167 a on the external side and, an inclined part 167 b on the internal side and, on its opposite edge, two ramps 169 (see Figure 20).

The body 77 of the second housing element 3 is provided, on its side intended to cooperate with the ramps 167, with two guide grooves 168 (see FIGS. 20 to 22) ending in a protuberance 170.

The electrical contact member carriers 28 of the housing element 1 each comprise members 55 which have an extension 67 which projects at the ends facing the housing element 3.

The second housing member 3 comprises electric contact members holder 28 a which are arranged to be rotated direction bèche head upside down by relative to the organ holders 28 of said housing element 1, each organ holder 28 a being furnished with a series of electrical contact members 55 a .

In order for the extensions 67 of the members 55 and 55 a to fit perfectly under the elastic tabs 68, it is desirable that said extensions are presented one above the other and then applied one against the other before to be inserted under the tabs 68. The ramps 167 and 169, in combination with the guide grooves 168 allow, during the assembly of the two housing elements 1 and 3 to cause such a movement in order to be ensured that the electrical connections will be carried out perfectly.

Figures 20 to 23 show these different movements. When the body 77 is engaged in the housing 76 of the first housing 1 at first, the edge of the body 77, opposite to that provided with the guide grooves 168, abuts against the free ends of the ramps 169, while the ramps 167 bear against the protuberances 170. It can therefore be seen that, when the second housing element 3 is presented to be engaged in the housing 76, it is slightly displaced in the direction of the arrow f (FIG. 20) so that the extensions 67 of the organs 55 a are placed above the extensions 67 of the organs 55. By continuing to engage the body 77 in the housing 76, the ramps 167 are housed in the guide grooves 168, while the edge of the body 77, opposite to that comprising the grooves 168, comes to climb the ramp 169 so that the second housing element is moved in the direction of the arrow g (see FIG. 21).

It will be noted that the slots 166 of the projection 160 project over the face of said element turned towards the guide grooves 168 in order to facilitate the introduction of the tongues 32 into the members 135.

The housing element 1 (see Figures 3 and 23) has two aligned conduits 171 and 172 in each of which is mounted a latch 173. Each latch 173 is constituted by an L-shaped bar of which a branch 174 has notches 176, while the other branch constitutes a gripping member. In the branch 174 are made longitudinally and intersecting two holes 177 and 182, the face of said branch 174 facing the side of the free end of the gripping member 175 having a notch 180 intended to cooperate with a retaining tab 181 for oppose the untimely removal of locks.

The conduits 171 and 172 are delimited by elastic tongues 178 comprising a stud 179 intended to cooperate selectively with one of the holes 177 and 182.

When the organ holders 28 are put in place, the latches 173 are pulled using the gripping members 175 until the tongue 181 abuts, by its free end, against the notch 180, the stud 179 being housed in the corresponding hole 182. In this position, the notches 176 are located in line with the grooves 72 so that the slides 69 can be engaged in said grooves. When the organ holders 28 are locked their lugs 61 being engaged in the notches 62, the latches 173 are moved to close the grooves 72 (see FIG. 23), the pins 179 then cooperating with the second hole 177.

The second housing element 3 comprises latches 183 which are mounted in the same way as the latches 173 and which make it possible to block the organ holders of electrical contacts 28 a .

Each lock 183 includes a notch 184 intended to cooperate, in an open position, with a retaining tab 185 of the second housing element 3, two holes 186 and 187 are intended to selectively receive a stud 188 of an elastic tab 189 .

Given the very large number of electrical contacts to be assembled to make the various electrical connections, the engagement of the second element 3, in the housing 76, requires a significant effort, similarly the uncoupling presents some difficulties.

The sleeve 107, screw 112, sleeve 13, nut 19, fins 21, circlip 18 and hollow screw 111 assembly makes it possible to facilitate the coupling and separation of the two housing elements 1 and 3.

When the body 77 is slightly engaged in the housing 76, that is to say, when the protuberance 170 has been crossed by the ramp 167, the screw 112 is aligned with the nut 19. Through the hole 93 in the cover 92, a tool is introduced such as a screwdriver which comes to cooperate with the impression of the head 113 of the screw 112 after having passed through the hollow screw 111, the screw 112 being slid so that its centering part 114 comes to be inserted in the nut 19, the fins 21 of which abut against the circlip 18. The screw 112 is then tightened, which causes the skirt 20 to slide in the sleeve until the fins 21 abut against the bottom of the slots 16, said skirt 20 fitting into the first bore 117. As the screw 112 is tightened, the face of the head 113, turned towards the thread side, cooperating with the washer 110 and the shoulder 118, causes engagement of the body 77 in the housing 76 until the collars 108 and 23 come into stop (see figure 24).

In this position all the electrical connections are made and the screw 112 can no longer be tightened.

Figures 25 and 26 clearly show the uncoupling of elements 1 and 3. As can be seen in Figure 25, the distance between the circlip 18 of the hollow screw 111, when the housing elements are coupled, is less than the total length of the screw 112 comprised between the free face of the head 113 and the free end of its thread and of the nut 19 comprised between its free end and the fins 21. Thus during the unscrewing of the screw 112, the head 113 abuts against the hollow screw 111 and the fins 21 against the circlip 18 before the uncoupling has not started. By continuing unscrewing, the screw 112 thus tends to push the nut 19, the skirt 20 of which emerges from the first bore 117, which causes the two elements 1 and 3 to separate.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and shown. Many detailed modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims (21)

1. An electrical connector of the type having a first half-housing (1) containing a certain number of electrical connector members (32, 55) connected to electrical conductors and exhibiting a seat (76) into which is inserted a corresponding end of a second half-housing (3) containing electrical connector members (55, 35) connected to electrical conductors and intended to cooperate with the electrical connector members in the first half-housing (1), and means of fixing the elements together, where in the said electrical connector one of the half-housings (1) is integral in its central portion with a sleeve (13) of which one end intended to be turned to face the other half-housing terminates in a collar (23) whilst the other end exhibits at least one longitudinal slot (16) extending up to an intermediate point in the length of the sleeve (13) in which there is mounted a sliding nut (19) which has a cylindrical skirt (20) and exhibits at least one radial fin (21) which is intended to cooperate with the slot (16), means being provided in the said sleeve (13) for retaining the nut (19), the other half-housing (3) being integral in its central portion with a sleeve (107) the end of which intended to be turned to face the first half-housing (1) terminates in a collar (108), the said sleeve (107) of the said other half-housing (3) exhibiting at that end of it which is adjacent to the collar (108) a bore (117) of which the internal diameter corresponds with that of the skirt (20) of the nut (19), the said bore being connected to a second bore (116) of smaller diameter in which a screw (112) is mounted which is able to slide and exhibits a head (113) guided in a third bore (115) which is connected to the second bore (116) by a shoulder (118), the free face of the head exhibiting an impression for the engagement of a tool.
2. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that the means of retaining the nut (19) consist of a circlip (18) seated in a neck in the sleeve (13).
3. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that the third bore (115) in the sleeve (107) of the other casing element (3) includes means of retaining the head (113) of the screw (112).
4. An electrical connector as in Claim 3, characterized in that the third bore (115) includes a thread (109) which is intended to receive a hollow screw (111) which forms the means of retaining the head (113) of the screw (112).
5. An electrical connector as in Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the distance separating the hollow screw (111) from the circlip (18) is less than the total length of the whole of the screw (112) from the head to its free end and of the nut from its free end to that end of it which is turned towards the circlip (18).
6. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that the opposite end of the screw (112) from the head includes a centreing portion (114) of smaller diameter.
7. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that that end of the nut (19) which is intended to engage in the first bore (117) exhibits an outer diameter which is less than the diameter of the said bore (117).
8. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that the first half-housing (1) has a series of channels (7, 8, 11, 12), each of which includes grooves (72) for guidance of the slides (69) of a series of member-carriers for electrical contacts, and each member-carrier (28) comprises a platform (50) from which is erected a series of parallel partitions (52) which terminate in a bevel (54) and define between them ducts (53), each of which is intended to receive a connector member (55), the partitions (52) terminating in the vicinity of the free edge of the platform (50) in a stop (56), whilst at the side opposite the bevel the partitions (52) include an extension (57) in one piece with a base (58) from which extends opposite each duct (53) an elastic bar (59) which exhibits on the face of it next the duct (53) a projection (60), the connector members (55) being realized from a strip of metal which is a good conductor of electricity and is cut out and folded in order to exhibit at one end means (64) of attachment to an electrical conductor and at the other end a platform wall (66) with an extension (67) folded like a hairpin to form an elastic tongue (68), and two sidewalls (70) terminating in pieces (71) turned down to form a sort of duct of rectangular section, the platform wall being pierced with an opening (63) intended to receive the projection (60) from the elastic bar (59), and the second half-housing (3) including a series of channels (119, 120, 123 and 124), each of which includes grooves intended to receive the slides (69) of member-carriers (28) for electrical contacts identical with those seated in the channels of the first half-housing but turned upside down, means being provided for locking the said member-carriers (28) in the channels of the two half-housings.
9. An electrical connector as in Claim 8, characterized in that the platform (50) of each member-carrier (28) for electrical contacts includes on the one hand in the vicinity of its free end spurs (61) and on the other hand a transverse rib (49), the channels (119, 120, 123, 124 7, 8, 11, 12) of the half-housings (1 and 3) exhibiting transverse cross-pieces (73) which form stops for the ribs (49) and exhibit notches (62) intended to receive the spurs (61).
10. An electrical connector as in Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the half-housings (1 and 3) include bolts (173) which are formed by small bars mounted to slide in passages (171) transversely to the guide-grooves (72), slides, member-carriers (28) for electrical contacts, the said small bars having notches (176) at the sides which are intended to coincide with the grooves in order to allow the slides (69) to pass, and means (177, 182, 189, 188) being provided for fixing the said bolts in two positions, one position in which the grooves are closed and one position in which the grooves are free.
11. An electrical connector as in Claim 9, characterized in that the transverse crosspieces (73) include ribs (74) intended to cooperate with the small elastic bars (59).
12. An electrical connector as in Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the seat (76) of the first half-housing (1) includes along one of the first of its edges two ramps (167) inclined towards the interior of the seat and along one edge opposite the first pair two ramps (169) whilst the end of the second half-housing (3) which is intended to be inserted in the seating (76) exhibits on that edge of it which is intended to cooperate with the ramps on the first edge, two protuberances (170) prolonged by guide grooves (168).
13. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that one of the half-housings (1) has supplementary channels (9 and 10) which are intended to receive cases (30) exhibiting a series of ducts (31) each of which is intended to receive one male electrical contact member (32) whilst the other half-housing (3) includes corresponding supplementary channels (121 and 122) intended to receive cases (126) which exhibit a series of ducts (131), each of which is intended to receive one female electrical contact member (135).
14. An electrical connector as in Claim 13, characterized in that the case (30) which is intended to receive the male electrical contact members (32) includes in each duct (31) an elastic foot (36) which is provided with a spur (37) intended to cooperate with an opening (33) in a male electrical contact member (32), the said case being provided with a small elastic locking-bar (38) whilst the channel intended to receive the said case (30) includes means coupled with the small elastic locking-bar (38) for holding the case in two positions, a waiting position in which the male electrical contact members (32) may be put into place and a locking position in which the elastic feet (36) are locked.
15. An electrical connector as in Claim 13, characterized in that the case (126) intended to receive the female electrical contact members (135) includes in each duct (131) small elastic bars (139, 141) intended to cooperate with a shoulder on the said female members (135) whilst the latter are provided with elastic tongues (152) which are intended to cooperate with stops (162) in ducts (161) which are formed in in a head (160) of the corresponding channel which includes means coupled with a small elastic locking bar (154) on the case for holding the latter in two positions, a waiting position in which the female electrical contact members may be put into place and a locking position in which the small elastic bars (139, 141) are locked.
16. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that the first half-housing has two screws (26) for fixing it to a wall.
17. An electrical connector as in Claims 1 and 16, characterized in that the second half-housing (3) has a ring (78) bearing upon one face a joint intended to cooperate with a small collar (88) on the said half-housing and on its other face a joint (85) having lips, which is intended to bear against the wall on which the first half-housing 91) is mounted.
18. An electrical connector as in Claim 17, characterized in that the ring (78) is provided with elastic feet (87) which are inserted into openings (80) in the second half-housing (3).
19. An electrical connector as in Claim 1, characterized in that it has a hood (4) for masking the opposite face of the second half-housing to that facing the first half-housing (1) and having a hole (93) for admitting a tool to engage with the screw (112).
20. An electrical connector as in Claim 19, characterized in that the hood (4) includes in the vicinity of the hole (93) a point for clearing the electrical conductors from the axis of the hole (93).
21. An electrical connector as in Claim 19, characterized in that the hood (4) includes a tubular part (99) with a movable flap (100) for receiving and gripping a sheath for the protection of the electrical conductors.

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