EP0632536B1

EP0632536B1 - Vibration proof electrical connector housing

Info

Publication number: EP0632536B1
Application number: EP19940110036
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea; Friedrich Josef Alois Kourimsky
Original assignee: Whitaker LLC
Current assignee: Whitaker LLC
Priority date: 1993-06-29
Filing date: 1994-06-28
Publication date: 1998-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-28
Also published as: DE69412380T2; CN1100237A; DE69412380D1; EP0632536A1

Description

This invention relates to an electrical connector according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1.

Electrical connectors often are situated in an environment where they are exposed to mechanical load caused by shaking or oscillating movement or vibrations and/or stress due to thermal changes. Examples are electrical connectors used in machines or motor vehicles. If such connectors are situated in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, not only does heavy mechanical load of the above-mentioned kind occur but also high differences in temperature occur eespecially during wintertime between the motor vehicle at standstill and being driven.

If the two connectors of a connector pair are attached to different parts or components that move relative to each other due to such mechanical and/or thermal stress, a corresponding relative motion between the connectors occurs, for example between contact pins or contact tabs of one connector and the receiving contacts, for example receiving sockets of the other connector of the connector pair. Such relative motion causes frictional corrosion leading to an impairment of the electrical contact between the pin contacts and the socket contacts.

There is disclosed in EP-A-0 492 479, an electrical connector comprising a first electrical terminal having a tubular outer member receiving an inner spring member having a forward mating portion for mating with a second electrical terminal of a mating electrical connector, the mating portion of the first terminal being connected to a rearward fixed portion thereof for movement in the tubular outer member.

This capability of axial movement of the mating portion of the first terminal in the tubular outer member, enables the mating portion to follow movement of the second electrical terminal relative thereto, when the connectors are in use under adverse condictions such as those described above. Fretting between the mating portion and the second electrical terminal with which it is mated, is thereby avoided. In the case of this known connector, the inner spring member is primarily intended to be mounted on a circuit board, with the first terminal being upstanding therefrom.

EP-A-0 125 786 discloses an electrical connector having the features of the pre-characterizing part of claim 1. The anti-vibration member is in the form of a protrusion of a flexible wall, which constitutes the passage of a housing in which the first electrical terminal is received. When the terminal is inserted into the passage, said protusion is deflected and it snaps into an opening provided in the electrical terminal.

In addition to providing a vibration proof electrical terminal, it is also required to provide that the terminal does not vibrate or chatter within the housing, in which it is situated.

It is the object of the invention to solve this problem, that is to avoid frictional corrosion even in those connector pairs whose connectors move relative to each other due to loads of the above mentioned kind.

This is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention provides an electrical connector housing which prevents vibration of the terminals therein.

The invention also makes a connector having an electrical terminal within a passage and an anti-vibration member for engaging the terminal to prevent terminal chattering within the connector.

The electrical terminal is sealed from the environment.

An embodiment of an electrical connector of this invention is characterized in that the first terminal is received in a passage of an insulating housing for mating with the mating connector, the passage having flexible wall sections which are externally depressible towards each other to produce an interference fit between said wall sections and the first terminal.

In one embodiment, the flexible wall sections of the housing are conveniently compressed towards one another by means on the, or each, mating connector, when the connectors are being mated. Such means may comprise camming surfaces on the housing or on the mating connector or upon both of these. Each flexible wall section is preferably provided with an internal recess for receiving a respective detent upon the terminal, better to restrain fretting movement of the tubular outer spring member. Each detent is preferably resiliently compressible by the base of the recess, so that the detent is continuously urged into the recess in the mated condition of the connectors. To this end, each detent may comprise a pair of wings outstanding from the outer member and being separated by a slot. The inner surfaces of the flexible wall sections restrain lateral movement of the outer member.

In another embodiment, an electrical connector is comprised of a main housing portion and a front housing portion. The front housing portion is snap-latchable to the main housing portion, whereby the front housing portion has wall portions extending integrally therefrom to be positioned intermediate terminal receiving platforms of the main housing portion. A locking slide member includes end portions and intermediate rail portions. A secondary locking member extends from each rail portion towards the centerline of the housing, for secondarily locking terminals within the housing. Each rail portion further comprises complementary camming members, such that during transverse movement of the locking slide, the terminals are secondarily locked in position by members, and concurrently, the flexible wall portions are cammed upwardly, thereby moving rubber gasket portions into respective sidewall portions of the terminals, thereby preventing any vibratory movement of the terminals.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sealed, vibration proof, electrical connector assembly comprising an electrical receptacle connector mated with an electrical pin connector;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a detail of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the detail shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the receptacle connector;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of an inner spring member of an electrical terminal of the receptacle connector;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an insulating housing of the receptacle connector;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing shown in Figure 6 having been taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front end view of the housing of the receptacle connector, drawn to a reduced scale;

Figure 9 is a similar view to that of Figure 7 drawn to the same scale as Figure 8 and showing a sealing grommet and a retaining ring assembled to the housing;

Figure 10 is a rear end view of the housing drawn to the same scale as Figures 8 and 9;

Figure 11 is an axial sectional view of the retaining ring;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary front view of the pin connector;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side view of the pin connector;

Figure 14 is a view taken on the lines 14-14 of Figure 12; and

Figure 15 is a view taken on the lines 15-15 of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a front plan view of the electrical connector housing of the present invention;

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the housing shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a cross sectional view through lines 18-18 of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view through lines 19-19 of Figure 16;

Figure 20 is a cross sectional view through lines 20-20 of Figure 16;

Figure 21 is a view similar to that of Figure 16 showing a portion of the electrical connector housing broken away to see the internal structure;

Figure 22 is a view similar to that of Figure 21 showing the connector in the fully assembled position;

Figure 23 is a view similar to that of Figure 21 showing the cut-away section of Figure 21 in greater detail; and

Figure 24 is an enlarged view of the cut-away section of Figure 22 in greater detail.

As shown in Figure 1, a sealed, vibration proof electrical connector assembly 2 comprises an electrical receptacle connector 4 and an electrical pin connector 6. The assembly 2, may, when in use, serve to connect a pair of insulated electrical leads L (only one of which is shown) to sensors (not shown) incorporated in the pin connector 6, in the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle and thus in a vibratory and temperature cycling environment.

The receptacle connector 4 comprises an insulating housing 8, a pair of electrical receptacle terminals 10 (only one of which is shown), an elastomeric grommet 9 and a grommet retaining ring 11. Each terminal 10 comprises an inner spring member 12 and an outer spring member 14.

The inner spring member 12 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 1, 3 and 5. The inner spring member 12 which has been stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, comprises a forward, pin receptacle box portion 16,

intermediate box portions

18 and 20, respectively, and a lead connecting rear portion 21. The portion 21 comprises a box portion 23 and a crimping ferrule having a wire barrel 22 crimped about the metal core of the respective lead L, and an insulation barrel 24 crimped about a bung seal B surrounding the insulation of the lead L as shown in Figure 1. The crimping ferrule is shown in its uncrimped condition in Figure 5. The

portions

16, 18, 20 and 23 are of substantially rectangular cross section. At the ends of the

portions

16 and 18, which are proximate to each other, three side walls of each of the

portions

16 and 18 cooperate to define a peripheral slot 26. At the ends of the

portions

18 and 20, which are proximate to each other, three side walls of each of these portions co-operate to define a peripheral slot 28. At the ends of the

portions

20 and 23, which are proximate to each other, three side walls of each of the

portions

20 and 23 co-operate to define a peripheral slot 30. The remaining side wall 31 of the portion 18 is connected to the remaining side wall 33 of the portion 20 by a first web 32, the remaining

side walls

35 and 37 of the

portions

16 and 18 being connected by a second and similar web 39 and the remaining

side walls

41 and 43 of the

portions

20 and 23 being connected by a third and similar web 45. The

box portions

16, 18 and 20 are, by virtue of the

slots

26, 28 and 30 relatively moveable on the

webs

32, 39 and 45, respectively (in relation to the box portion 23 which is fixed, as described below), so that the receptacle portion 16 is displaceable along the longitudinal axis X-X of the inner spring member 12, as well as transversely of the axis X-X, in accordance with the general teaching of EP-A-0492479.

Opposite side walls 34 of the box portion 16 have extending from their forward edges, bights 48 from which in turn extend re-enterant contact springs 36 having opposed, inwardly bowed contact surfaces 38 within the receptacle box portion 16.

The outer spring member 14, which has been stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, is of rectangular cross section corresponding to that of said box portions. The outer spring member 14 encloses the

box portions

16, 18, 20 and 23 of the inner spring member 12. The outer spring member 14 has a first pair of opposite side walls 40 and a second pair of opposite side walls 42 (only one of which is shown) which are adjacent to the side wall 40. A resilient, rearwardly directed latching tongue 44 stamped out from each of the side walls 40, extends obliquely away therefrom. At the forward end of the spring member 14, arcuate extensions 46 of the side walls 40 overlie the bights 48 of the inner spring member 12, to limit forward movement of the receptacle box portion 16. The outer spring member 14 is fixed to the inner spring member 12 by means of tabs 49 (only one of which is shown, in Figure 1), sheared from the rearward end portions of the side walls 42 and which have been clinched into respective slots 50 (Figure 5) in the box portion 23 of the spring member 12. The spring member 12 is thus secured in the outer spring member 14 such that the

box portions

16, 18 and 20 can move within the spring member 14 in the direction of the axis X-X.

Each side wall 40 of the outer spring member 14 has stamped out therefrom, about midway between the respective latching tongue 44 and extension 46, an antifretting detent 52 which is best seen in Figures 2 and 3. Each detent 52 is shaped substantially as an acute angled triangle, as seen in plan view, and comprises a pair of resiliently depressible wings 54 each of which is shaped substantially as a right angle triangle as seen in plan view. The inner edges of the wings 54 are slightly spaced from each other to define a central slot 55. The apex of said acute angled triangle is directed towards the extension 46 and its base is directed towards the latching tongue 44. Each wing 54 has an arcuate free base edge 56 remote from said apex, so that as seen in the direction of the extension 46, the detent 52 has an end view profile which is substantially of half moon shape.

The housing 8 of the receptacle connector 4, which has been moulded in one piece, will now be described with particular reference to Figures 4 and 6 to 10. The housing 8 basically comprises a body 58 to which is connected a forward hood 60, into which a forward part 62 of the body 58 projects, a peripherally continuous socket 63 being defined between the hood 60 and the forward part 62. There extend through the body 58, a pair of terminal receiving passages 64, each of which opens into a terminal receiving face 68 of the body 58 and into a mating face 66 thereof by way of pin receiving mouth 70. Each passage 64 comprises a rear part 72 in which the bung seal B of the respective terminal 10 is tightly engaged in sealing tight fashion as shown in Figure 1, and a forward rectangular cross section part 74 extending into the hood 60. The forward part 74 of each passage 64 has therein opposed shoulders 76 each of which is engaged by a respective latching lance 44 of the outer spring member 14. The terminals 10 are thereby restrained against withdrawal from the passages 64. Rearwardly of the shoulders 76, the rear part of each outer spring member 14, enclosing the box portion 23 of the spring member 12, is snugly received in the part 74 of each passage 64. Forwardly of the shoulders 76, opposite side walls 77 of each passage part 74 are each formed with a pair of slots 78 (Figures 7, 8 and 9) so that a section 80 of each wall 77, between the respective pair of slots 78 is resiliently flexible inwardly of the respective passage part 74. As shown in Figure 8, the slots 78 have L-cross section, blind portions opening into the mating face 66. Each wall section 80 thereby constitutes a flexible beam supported at both of its ends. Each side wall section 80 has a forwardly tapered recess 82 for receiving a respective antifretting detent 52 and terminating rearwardly in a shoulder 84. Opposite to each recess 82, the outer surface of each wall section 80 is formed with a ramp surface 86 (Figures 1 and 6) and is of increased thickness between the surface 86 and an inclined internal surface 88 of the wall section 80. The holder 60 is formed with internal keyways 92.

As shown in Figures 1 and 9, the sealing grommet 9 surrounds the forward part 62 of the body 58 of the housing 8 and is engaged between the rear wall 90 of the hood 60 and the grommet retaining ring 11. The grommet retaining ring 11 (Figure 11), which is annular and is of substantially rectangular cross section comprises first opposed side walls 94 each having therein slots 96 opening into a forward edge 97 of the wall 94. The ring 11 has second opposed side walls 98 each having an inwardly inclined latching tongue 100, the free end of which latchingly engages a shoulder 102 (Figure 7) provided by an external notch 104 in a respective side wall 106 of the forward part 62 of the housing body 58. Returning to Figure 11, each side wall 94 of the ring 11 is formed with a rectilinear transverse slot 108 to enhance the resilience of the retainer 11 in the direction of its central axis C-C.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the body 58 of the housing 8 comprises a rectangular rear portion 110 defining the rear part 72 of each terminal receiving passage 64, and a rectangular rear frame 112 connected to the rear portion 110 by longitudinal struts 114 and surrounding the rear end of the portion 110. On each side of the rear portion 110 of the body 58 is a pair of latch arms 116, best seen in Figure 4, which are connected together by means of a resilient, U- shaped spring strap 118 comprising legs 120 connected at their forward ends by a bight 122. The centre of the bight 122 of each strap 118 is connected to the respective strut 114 by way of a lateral stub 124 extending therefrom (Figure 7). The rear end of each leg 120 is connected to the rear end of a respective latch arm 116. The stub 124 provides a pivot point P (Figure 4) about which the legs 120 are pivotable, the stub 124 being the sole connection between the strap 118 and the remainder of the housing 8. The latch arms 116 are not connected to the housing 8 at all, excepting by way of the strap 118. Each latch arm 116 comprises a rear handle 126 from which projects forwardly, a shank 128 into a rearwardly opening recess 130 in a side wall 132 of the hood 60. Each latch arm 116 of each pair of those arms is, as a whole, coplanar with the hood side wall 132 and with the other latch arm of the pair, whereby the latch arms 116 do not project from the housing 8 but are substantially in line therewith. At its forward end, each latch arm shank 128 has a latching head 134 protruding beneath the respective side wall 132 of the hood 60 (Figures 7 to 9), and projecting inwardly towards the latching head 134 of the other latch arm of the pair. Each latching head 134 has a forwardly inclined ramp surface 135 and a rearwardly facing latching shoulder 136. The latch arms 126 have a normal closed, latching position as shown in Figure 4, in which the latching heads 134 of the latch arms 116 of each pair are proximate to each other. The latch arms 116 can be pivoted to an open position in which the latching heads 134 are more widely spaced from each other, by pressing the handles 126 of the latch arms 126 of the pair towards each other. Upon release of the handles 126, the latch arms 116 resile to their normal position by virtue of the resilience of the straps 118. Overstress of the latch arms 116 when they are pivoted to their open position is prevented by shoulders 138 (Figure 8) of the hood 60, bounding the hood side walls 132 to limit outward movement of the latching heads 134. Each side wall 132 of the hood 60 has a rearwardly opening rectangular recess 140 (Figure 4) to allow access for a core pin (not shown) for moulding the latching shoulders 136 and for providing the notch 104 in the respective side wall 106 in the forward part 62 of the housing 8; as will best be appreciated from Figure 7.

The pin connector 6 will now be described with reference to Figures 12 to 15. The connector 6 comprises an insulating housing 142, shown in fragmentary form, which may contain sensors for connection to the leads L of Figure 1. There projects from the housing 142, a substantially rectangular cross section hood 144 for mating reception in the socket 63 of the connector 4. The hood 144 is defined by a first pair of opposed side walls 166 and a second pair of opposed side walls 168. A pair of terminal pins 170 in the housing 142 have mating end portions 172 projecting into the hood 144 for mating with respective receptacle terminals 10 of the connector 4. The terminal pins 170 are connected to the sensors, for example, by means not shown. Each side wall 166 has a pair of spaced camming ribs 174 projecting into the hood 144 and terminating in damming faces 176, as best seen in Figure 15, for cooperation with respective ramp surfaces 86 of the housing 8 (Figure 14). The ribs 174 have flat free ends 177. Each rib 174 on one wall 166 is opposite to and is aligned with a corresponding rib 174 on the opposite wall 166. Each wall 168 has a central external latch member 178 having a rear latching shoulder 179 and a tapered camming nose 180 for cooperation with respective latching heads 134 of the housing 8. The walls 166 have external keys 182 for reception in respective keyways 92 of the housing 8. Each

wall

166 and 168 has a chamfered free edge 184 for guiding it into the socket 63 of the connector 4.

The connector 6 is mated with the connector 4 by inserting the hood 144 of the connector 6 into the socket 63 of the connector 4 as shown in Figure 1, each key 182 slidably engaging in a respective keyway 92 of the housing 8. During the mating operation, the mating portion 172 of each pin 170 enters the mouth 70 of a respective terminal receiving passage 64 and is received between the contact surfaces 38 of the contact springs 36 of the terminal 10 in the passage 64. The inner surfaces of the

side walls

166 and 168 of the connector 6 engage the sealing grommet 9 in sealing tight relationship therewith. Also during the mating operation, the camming face 176 of each camming rib 174 of the connector 6, engages against the respective ramp surface 86 of the housing 8 thereby camming the underlying wall section 80 resiliently inwardly by virtue of the slots 78, against the respective side wall 40 of the respective spring member 14, and the detent 52 thereon, the detent 52 being received in the respective recess 82 and being resiliently depressed to some extent, by the bottom wall of the recess 82. The free edge 56 of each wing 54 of the detent 52 engages the rear wall of the recess 82. An interference fit is thereby produced between the wall sections 80 and the outer spring member 14. Further during the mating operation, the camming nose 180 of each latch member 178 engages between the latching heads 134 of a respective pair of the latch arms 166 thereby camming them apart against the action of the respective spring strap 118 until, as the connectors 4 and 6 reach their mated position, the arms 116 resile as the shoulders 179 of the latch members 178 pass the latching shoulders 136 of the heads 134 so that the shoulders 136 are carried inwardly to latch against the shoulders 179 thereby securing the connectors 4 and 6 in their mated relationship. The shoulders 179 are drawn tightly against the shoulders 136 because the flat free ends 177 of the camming ribs 174 resiliently and axially compress the sealing grommet retaining ring 11 by virtue of the slots 108 therein, given that the grommet 9 having been compressed between the

side walls

116 and 118 of the hood 114 will have little axial resilience.

As mentioned above, the connector assembly 2 comprising the connectors 4 and 6, is intended for use in a vibratory and temperature cycling environment, for example in the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle. Fretting and consequent frictional corrosion of parts of the connector assembly 2, which are susceptible to a fretting action, must, therefore, be avoided. Fretting between the pins 170 and the contact surfaces 38 of the contact springs 36 is avoided, because the pin receptacle portion 16 of each inner spring member 12 can move both axially and laterally in its outer spring member 14. Fretting between the outer spring member 14 and the housing 8 is prevented by virtue of the interference fit between the wall sections 80 and the spring member 14. Also, relative movement between the connectors 4 and 6 is restrained because the grommet retaining ring 11 urges the latching shoulders 179 firmly against the latching shoulders 136.

Since the latch arms 116 are in line with the housing 4 and so do not project therefrom, the moulding of the housing 4 as a one piece item, is simplified, and the latch arms are not free to tangle with the leads L so as to be damaged, when the terminals 10 are being loaded into the housing 4 or during the assembly of the connectors 4 and 6. The connectors 4 and 6 can be released from each other by pressing the handles 126 of each pair of latch arms towards each other.

An alternative embodiment of an electrical connector of the present invention is shown in Figures 16-24. With respect first to Figure 16, an electrical connector housing is shown generally at 200 and includes a front mating portion 204, an outer shroud portion 206, a rear face 208 and a pivotable latch portion at 210. The electrical connector housing 200 is of the type that is matable with a complementary connector member 212, for example as shown in Figure 19, where the latch member 10 is cooperable with a latching lug 214 on the connector housing 212 to lock the two connectors together.

With reference again to Figure 16, it should be noted that the electrical connector housing 200 is comprised of four main components a rear housing portion 220, a front housing portion 222, a locking slide 224, and a peripheral seal 226. With reference now to Figures 16-21, the rear housing portion will be described in greater detail.

With reference first to Figure 20, the rear housing portion 220 has, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, three terminal receiving passageways 230 extending through the rear surface 208. As shown best in Figure 20, the main housing 220 has outside wall portions 232 which also can be seen from the front in Figure 16. Separating each of the cavities are central wall portions 234 which do not extend the full height of the housing but are rather short ribs as shown in Figures 18 and 21. Also as shown in Figures 20 and 21, terminal platforms are formed at 236 which support the terminal 238, the supports 236 flanking a slot 239, also shown in Figures 20 and 21, which forms a shoulder at 240 to form a locking shoulder for the locking lance 242 of the terminal 238 as shown in either of Figures 19 or 20. As shown in either of Figures 19 or 20, walls 245 are formed inside the shroud 206 but spaced above the walls 236, and form a slot 250 above and below, and running parallel to, the row of terminal passageways.

With reference again to Figures 16-21, the front housing portion 222 will be described in greater detail. With reference first to Figures 20 and 21, the front housing portion 222 is formed with a peripheral ring portion 252 having a locking lance at 254 which cooperates with a lug 256 on the wall portion 232. The shroud portion 222 has a plurality of plate members such as 260 extending towards a centerline of the connector, as shown best in Figure 21, behind which project extending wall portions 262. The wall portion 262 comprises an outer wide portion 264, an intermediate rubber portion 266 and a central rib portion 268, as will be described in greater detail. Also as shown in Figures 19 and 21, feet portion 270 extend from an end of the shroud portion 252 of the front housing portion 222.

With respect now to Figure 16, a locking slide 224 is shown including end plate portions 275 at either end thereof with intermediate rail portions 276 extending between the end portions 275. As best shown in Figure 18, the rail portion 276 include a plate portion 277 extending downwardly towards the centerline of the cavity including a secondary locking plate member 278 attached thereto. It is worth noting at this point, and as shown in Figures 18 and 20, the moulding of the rear housing portion 220 forms a slot 280 between the platform portions 236, and above and below the central wall portion 234 as shown in Figure 18. Finally, and as best shown in Figure 23, the rail portions 276 include recessed members 282 formed integrally therein forming a camming surface at 282. It should be appreciated that each of the upper and lower rail portions 276 include a cutout portion 280 proximate to the central wall portions 234 of the rear housing portion 220.

With respect now to Figures 16, 18 and 20, an outer seal 226 is provided where the seal is positioned on the outer wall portions 245 and inside the shroud member 206. The seal 226 further includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced sealing ribs at 285.

With the connector components as described above, the electrical connector can be assembled as follows. The peripheral seal 226 is first slidably received over the outer wall portion 245 as shown in Figures 18 or 20, such that the rear edge of the seal contacts an inner wall portion 290 of the shroud member 206. It should be appreciated that the seal member 226 is a ring shaped member, and is slightly smaller than the periphery around wall 245 such that the seal is somewhat stretched and held in somewhat of a friction fit on the wall 245. The locking slide 224 can then be slidably received over the front of the housing member 220 such that the locking

members

277 and 278 pass within the slots 280 to a position shown in Figure 20, and when in this position, the end portions 275 come proximate to the wall portions 245 and prevent any further movement of the seal member 226. It should be noted that in Figure 20, the locking slide 224 is shown in a fully locked position, however is movable to an unlocked position, shown in phantom, where the locking members 278 will pass within the slots 280 to a position above and below the central wall portion 234, as shown in Figure 18.

For assembly of the front housing portion 222 to the housing portion 220, the locking slide 224 should be in the unlocked position. The front housing portion 222 can now be received onto the housing portion 220, whereby the plurality of wall portions 264 will be received intermediate the platform portions 236 to a position where the latches 254 snap into position against their corresponding locking lug, as shown in Figure 20. In this position, the projection 265 on the plate portion 264 snaps into its corresponding recess 280 as shown in Figure 23.

As assembled, a plurality of terminals 238 can now be received through the passageways 230 through the face 208, to a position where the locking lances 242 are snapped against their corresponding shoulders 240. The locking plate 224 can now be transversely slid between the position shown in phantom in Figure 20 to its fully locked position, where each of the locking lugs 278 are moved transversely against a locking shoulder 295 of the terminal 238. However simultaneously and more importantly, the transverse movement of the locking member 224 causes the corresponding camming surfaces 269 and 282 (Figure 23) to cooperate which moves the flexible wall portion 264 upwardly from a position shown in Figure 23 to a position shown in Figure 24 which causes a camming upward of the plate portion 264, and a concurrent movement of the rubber member 266 against an outer periphery of the terminals 238. This also causes the movement of the flexible portion 268 against the central rib portion 234. It should be appreciated that an identical flexible wall portion 264 is positioned above the intermediate rib 234 as shown in Figure 23. This causes each corner of the terminal to be held in a fixed position against the rubber member 266 thereby preventing any vibration of the terminal within the corresponding housing.

Advantageously, an electrical connector according to the present invention includes a housing having a passage for receiving a terminal where wall sections of the passage are movable into an interfering relationship with the terminal, thereby preventing vibration or chatter of the terminal within the passage. This aids in the avoidance of frictional corrosion even in connector pairs where the two connectors move relative each other. A connector according to this invention is also sealable to protect the interconnection of the terminals from the environment.

The above described invention may be incorporated into devices utilizing contacts different than those described herein. Furthermore, the invention is applicable to devices having one or more passages arranged in at least one row having at least one passage per row without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

An electrical connector (4, 200) for mating with a mating electrical connector (6, 212), comprising an insulating housing (8, 220 and 222) and a first electrical terminal (10, 238) mounted within a passage (64, 230) of the housing (8, 220 and 222), the first electrical terminal (10, 238) having a forward mating portion (16) for mating with a second electrical terminal (170) of the mating electrical connector (6, 212); wherein an anti-vibration member (80, 264) is provided in the passage (64, 220), characterized in that the anti-vibration member (80, 264) includes a ramp surface (86, 269) engageable by a camming surface (176, 282) to deflect the anti-vibration member (80, 238) and to displace it into the passage to produce an interference fit between said anti-vibration member (80, 264) and the first electrical terminal (10, 238), and that the anti-vibration member (80, 264) engages opposing surfaces of the first electrical terminal (10, 238).
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first terminal (10, 238) comprises an outer member (14) receiving an inner spring member (12) having the forward mating portion (16) extending therefrom, the forward mating portion (16) being connected to a rearward fixed portion (23) for movement in the outer member (14), where the anti-vibration member (80, 264) is displaceable to form the interference fit with the outer member (14).
A connector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first electrical terminal (10) includes a detent (52) engageable by the anti-vibration member (80).
An electrical connector of any one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the anti-vibration member (80, 238) includes a resilient pad (266) for engaging the terminal (10, 238).
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the anti-vibration member is a flexible wall portion (80, 238).
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the flexible wall sections (80) are defined by pairs of spaced, longitudinal, through slots (78) in respective opposite side walls of the passage (64), each flexible wall section (80) being a resilient beam supported at both ends.
An electrical connector as claimed in any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the camming surface (176) is part of the mating connector (6).
An electrical connector as claimed in any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the camming surface (282) is positioned on a movable rail (276) of the connector (200).
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the rail (276) is movable transversely of the flexible wall member (264).
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the rail (276) includes a locking lug (278) which engages a locking shoulder of the terminal (238) when the anti-vibration member (264) is interfering with the terminal (238), whereby secondary locking is provided.
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 10, characterized in that the anti-vibration member (80, 264) includes a resilient pad (266) for pressing against the first terminal (10, 238).
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 11, characterized in that the connector includes a plurality of passageways (64, 230).