EP0742608B1 - Connection module with demountable contacts and application in connection blocks - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to connection modules with removable contacts, and in particular (although not exclusively) those insertable side by side in a plate module holder to constitute a connection block.

Such a connection block can easily be designed to incorporate modules giving the contacts a step of variable distribution from one module to another. he is also possible to install a number of modules lower than the number maximum allowable.

Such an electrical connection block is described in document EP-A-0 500 425. In each module are formed passages intended to receive the contacts and each provided with retaining pawls.

The invention aims to provide a connection module plug-in electric responding better than those previously known to the requirements of the practice, in particular in that that it allows an energetic locking of the contacts as well that an easy installation and removal of the contacts, while having a relatively simple constitution.

To this end, the invention notably proposes a module according to claim 1.

In a first embodiment, the module can have at least some of the defined characteristics by claims 2 to 9.

To facilitate the placement and removal of contacts and / or disassembly of the module, without tools, all retaining a relatively simple constitution, the module can have characteristics among those defined in claims 10 to 17 which are those other embodiments.

The invention also provides a block of connection comprising modules of the above type defined and a receiving stage, according to claim 18.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective montrant la platine d'un bloc de connexion, trois modules montés sur la platine et un quatrième module qui en est encore détaché ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée montrant le boítier et la plaque d'un module ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail à grande échelle, en perspective, avec des parties arrachées, destinée à montrer les moyens d'accrochage des plaques ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perpective montrant le boítier et la plaque d'un module dans une disposition inverse de celle de la figure 2
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle du bloc de connexion de la figure 1, en coupe suivant le plan médian d'un des modules, la partie gauche montrant la plaque partiellement enfoncée et la partie droite la plaque complètement enfoncée ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5, montrant trois modules seulement ;
• la figure 7, similaire à une fraction de la figure 1, montre un second mode de réalisation ;
• les figures 8 et 9, respectivement similaires aux figures 2 et 5, correspondent à un second mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 10, similaire à la fraction droite de la figure 9, montre une variante de réalisation des moyens d'accrochage de la plaque sur le boítier d'un module.
• la figure 11 est une vue en élévation et en coupe partielle d'une fraction d'un module suivant un autre mode encore de réalisation de l'invention, dans l'état assemblé, les contacts n'étant pas représentés ;
• la figure 12, similaire à la figure 11, montre le module avec la plaque partiellement enfoncée ;
• les figures 13A à 13D montrent des étapes successives de mise en place d'un contact et d'assemblage du module ;
• la figure 14, similaire à la figure 13D, montre la possibilité d'engager un contact alors que la plaque est verrouillée sur le boítier ;
• la figure 15, similaire à la figure 12, montre une variante de réalisation interdisant d'engager les contacts lorsque la plaque est verrouillée sur le boítier ;
• la figure 16, similaire à la figure 12, montre une autre variante de réalisation.

The above characteristics as well as others, advantageously usable in conjunction with the previous ones, but which can be independently, will appear better on reading the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of 'nonlimiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the plate of a connection block, three modules mounted on the plate and a fourth module which is still detached therefrom;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the housing and the plate of a module;
• Figure 3 is a detail view on a large scale, in perspective, with parts broken away, intended to show the means for hooking the plates;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the housing and the plate of a module in a reverse arrangement to that of Figure 2
• Figure 5 is a partial view of the connection block of Figure 1, in section along the median plane of one of the modules, the left part showing the partially depressed plate and the right part the fully depressed plate;
• Figure 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI of Figure 5, showing only three modules;
• Figure 7, similar to a fraction of Figure 1, shows a second embodiment;
• Figures 8 and 9, respectively similar to Figures 2 and 5, correspond to a second embodiment;
• Figure 10, similar to the right fraction of Figure 9, shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment means of the plate on the housing of a module.
• Figure 11 is an elevational view in partial section of a fraction of a module according to yet another embodiment of the invention, in the assembled state, the contacts not being shown;
• Figure 12, similar to Figure 11, shows the module with the plate partially depressed;
• FIGS. 13A to 13D show successive stages of setting up a contact and assembling the module;
• Figure 14, similar to Figure 13D, shows the possibility of engaging a contact while the plate is locked on the housing;
• Figure 15, similar to Figure 12, shows an alternative embodiment prohibiting engaging the contacts when the plate is locked on the housing;
• Figure 16, similar to Figure 12, shows another alternative embodiment.

The connection block 10 shown in Figures 1 to 6 is intended to receive female electrical contacts 12 and to plug into an additional connection block fitted male contacts, not shown. Such a block 10 is in particular usable for equipping motor vehicles. The complementary block having male contacts can have a similar constitution.

Block 10 includes a plate 14 intended to receive modules 16. For this, its central part is shaped frame, having side members 18 delimiting a corridor central. Side ears 19 of the plate allow to fix it.

Each module 16 consists of a housing 20 and a plate 22 for retaining the module contacts. It is provided to be locked on the side rails in one position adjacent to another module or to other modules. pressing of the module in the stage window when it locking is defined by stop means provided on the housing and intended to come into contact with the side members.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the elastic locking means fix the module to the side members. They understand, on each case, two external retention arms 24, one piece with the rest of the case, intended to frame the longitudinal members, and elastic tabs 26 for internal retention, also in one piece with the rest of the case. The external retention arms 26 are each terminated by a catch notch 28 intended to snap onto a external shoulder 30 of the respective side members. This shoulder 30 extends over the entire length of the spar. The arm 24 could be long enough for its notch hooks snaps onto the edge of the side member, but this provision would constitute a projection which could limit the reconciliation of the block and an additional block during plugging. As shown in particular in Figure 5, the presence of external shoulders 30 allows arms 24 which do not extend beyond the side members. Stop means of each box are formed by the connection of retaining arms external to the main part of the housing.

Similarly, the internal elastic tabs 26 are designed to snap onto an internal shoulder respective side members.

In the housings are provided passages 34 of electrical contacts, which are female contacts in the particular case shown in Figure 5.

Each plate 22 is designed to receive contacts and hold them when it is completely engaged in the respective housing. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the plate is designed to resiliently lock on the plate, in a position determined in relation to the respective housing. For this, the plate 22 (Figures 2 and 4) has a bottom pierced with passages for contacts, and lateral hooking arms 38. The bottom is extended by elastic catches 36 contact retention. The spacing of the latches of a same passage is prohibited by the wall of the respective passage 34 of the housing when the plate is fully inserted in the case. This method of retaining contacts will not be further described because it is well known. We can in particular refer, in this regard, to document EP-A-0 576 345.

The plate hooking means, intended to immobilize it on the turntable, include, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the lateral arms 38, provided for this purpose each of a terminal hooking notch. These notches can be provided to snap onto the same shoulder 32 than the one used for the legs elastic bands 26. As shown in particular in FIG. 2, two 26 legs can be provided on each side of each case, so as to leave a free passage for the arm 38 which fits between them.

To facilitate the placement and removal of contacts, it is advantageous that the plate 22 can be retained in a pre-locking position leaving the latches 36 free, so that the contacts can then be set up and removed. For this, the plate and the housing carry provisional retaining means of the plate in a retracted position. In the embodiment Figures 1 to 6, these means are constituted by provisional retaining notches 40 constituting the projections external of each plate 22, intended to engage each in a window 42 of elongated shape with a partition extending laterally one of the sides of the case. In one windows can be reserved a cross member 44 (figure 4) fixing the provisional retaining position of the plate.

The plate, the case and the plates are generally made of a single piece of molded plastic, possibly reinforced by charges. The shape of these pieces is simple enough that the molds of manufacturing are feasible at a moderate price.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, each plate is locked in the position where it prohibits placing or removing contacts only when its attachment means are fixed to the plate 14.

In some cases, it is preferable that the plate 22 is locks on the housing 20, so that each module containing contacts can be handled without risk of the contacts do not escape. In this case, we can adopt one of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, where the organs corresponding to those already represented on Figures 1 to 6 are designated by the same number of reference. The plate 22 is then devoid of lateral arms 38 hooking on the plate. In contrast, the housing 20 is provided with elastic pawls 46 which, when the plate is fully inserted in the housing, come to hang on the back edge of the plate, as shown in the left side of figure 9. These pawls can be guided, during their introduction, by arranged corridors in lateral bulges 48 of the plates. In the case illustrated in Figure 9, the corridor wall has a inclined zone 50 which gradually bends the pawl at as it is introduced.

The final catch of the pawl 46 thus prestressed progressive clicks into place on the edge back of the plate when the latter arrives in its full engagement position.

In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the corridor wall has a shoulder 52 whose location is such that when the pawl 46 is pressed against the shoulder 52, without being prestressed, the plate 22 and the housing 20 are in the pre-locking position allowing inserting and removing contacts. In that case again, the exact pre-lock position can be fixed by comparable means, in their structure or their function, to the notch 40 and to the cross member 44 of FIG. 4.

A block can also be provided to receive male contacts. Its constitution then differs from that which has been described by the arrangement of the guide members provided in the ears of the turntable.

In all the embodiments of FIGS. 11 to 16, the module still consists of a housing 120 and a contact retaining plate 122 112 (FIGS. 13A to 13D, 14 and 15).

The housing 120 is intended to be locked on the longitudinal members of a plate 114 in a position adjacent to a other module.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12, the elastic locking means of the housing on the side members include, on each housing, two external retention arms 124, in one piece with the rest of the case, intended to frame the side members of the platinum 114. These external retention arms 124 terminate each by a hooking notch 128 intended to snap on an external shoulder 130 of a respective spar. These means also include internal arms 126 separated from the main part of the case, intended to receive the contacts 112.

In the housing 120 are formed parallel passages 134 for receiving the female electrical contacts 112.

The plate 122 is designed to receive the contacts electrically and retain them energetically.

For this, the plate 122 has a bottom pierced with passages for the contacts and constituting a shoulder of support of a first flange 150 of the respective contact. The bottom is extended by elastic latches 136 of retained contacts. Each latch 136 has, from of its root, an elastic part, then a portion angled 137 intended to rest on a second flange 152 of a contact (Figures 13c and 13D). The distance between the shoulder and the angled portion 137 is very slightly greater than the distance between the facing faces of flanges 150 and 152. The bent part has a sufficient height for it to rest on the housing 120 when the plate is locked on the housing.

Each latch 136 is extended by a finger 154 to curved end. When the finger is in the free state (Figure 13A), it has a shape such that it abuts against a terminal boss 156 of the housing if the plate is pressed. But the curvature of the end is such that the boss flexes the latch outward under the action of the driving force and allows the pawl to come into the position shown in Figure 13D.

The plate locking means include lateral elastic arms 138 in one piece with the retaining plate, extending from the rear of the plate, framing the retaining plate and extending beyond latches down. These side arms are provided with lugs terminals intended to engage in holes 158 of the arms internal of the case. The arms can have a part swollen and striated 160 to better grasp them. Between the body of the housing and each arm is provided an interval sufficient to allow the pins to be released by bending arms. By bringing them together by hand, we can engage the plate first to the intermediate position shown in figure 12, then to the locking position where the pins engage elastically in the holes 158.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the contacts can be set up whatever the position of the plate relative to the housing, even when the plate is locked on the housing. However, the contacts cannot be removed from the plate without intervention manually on the latches only when the plate is in the position shown in Figure 13C. To avoid shooting inadvertently the drawer beyond this pre-locking position, the plate and the housing carry means for temporary withholding. In the case illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, these means are constituted by notches 140 constituting external projections of the housing and each engaging in a window 142 of elongated shape with a partition extending laterally one of the sides of the plate. The position of the plate can be freely adjusted between positions shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Figures 13A and 13B show that the contacts 112 can be inserted when the plate is in position retracted. Figure 14 shows that the contacts can also be inserted, pushing back the latches 136, while the plate 122 is locked on the housing 120. However, contacts can only be removed when the plate is in the position shown in the figure 13C, where its latches are pushed back by the bosses 156. They can no longer be locked when the plate is locked on the housing (Figure 3D).

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 15 at on the contrary, the housing 120 has lateral stops 162 delimiting cavities in which the fingertips 154 when the plate is locked on the housing. The stops prevent bending of the fingers and latches and therefore the introduction of the contacts.

FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of the housing 120 in which an intermediate position of the plate, where insertion and extraction are allowed, is fixed by notches 164 of the internal arms 126. If one push the plate in without bringing the arms 138 together, the plate advance to the position of figure 12 where it is retained forwards by the support of the lugs, towards the rear by the notches 140. To fully insert the plate, it must first clear the notches by bringing the arms together side elastic 138, then push the plate until that the pins are opposite the holes 158.

Claims (18)

1. Couplable electrical connection module (16) comprising:

   a connection casing (20, 120) that can be coupled to a casing of a complementary module, and

   a retaining plate (22, 122) intended to immobilize electric contacts (12, 112) each between a shoulder of a passage formed in the plate and a lug of an elastic tongue (36, 136) whose deformation, required to release the contact, is prevented by the casing (20, 120) when the plate is pushed fully into the casing,

   the plate being equipped with catching means intended to immobilize it in a given position with respect to the casing, characterized in that the casing is equipped with stop means capable of limiting its movement towards a forward position with respect to a module mounting plate (14, 114) and with elastic locking means preventing it from moving back from the forward position.
2. Module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the retaining plate (22) is equipped with temporary-retention teeth (40) each intended to engage in an opening (42) of the casing to retain the plate in a position with respect to the casing in which position it allows the contacts to be fitted and removed.
3. Module according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the catching means of each plate collaborate with the respective casing.
4. Module according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said catching means comprise pawls (46) belonging to the casings (20) and pawl passageways provided in the plate to allow the pawls to catch on the rear edge of the plate.
5. Module according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that means of elastically locking each casing onto the mounting plate comprise external retaining arms (24) belonging to the casing and intended to wrap around longitudinal members (18) of the mounting plate, and internal elastic retaining tabs (26) intended to clip onto an internal longitudinal shoulder (32) of each longitudinal member.
6. Module according to Claim 5, characterized in that the external retaining arms are each equipped with a tooth (28) for catching on an external shoulder (30) of the respective longitudinal members.
7. Module according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the catching means of the plate are designed to collaborate with the longitudinal members.
8. Module according to Claim 7, characterized in that the catching means are lateral arms (38) of the plate ending in teeth which clip onto shoulders intended to accommodate the casing elastic locking means.
9. Module according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that each casing comprises, on each side, a pair of the said elastic retaining tabs (26) delimiting a passage for a lateral arm (38) of the plate constituting means of catching on one of the longitudinal members.
10. Module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elastic tongue (136) is secured to the plate and can move between a retracted position for inserting/extracting the contacts and the fully forward position, and in that the tongue is extended by a finger (154) at the curved end having a shape such that it comes into abutment against an end stop (156) of the casing when the plate is in the retracted position and such that it moves the tongue away from its contact-retaining position.
11. Module according to Claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the catching means are designed to catch on the casing (120).
12. Module according to Claim 11, characterized in that the catching means belonging to the plate (122) comprise lateral elastic arms (138) equipped with end lugs for catching on the casing.
13. Module according to Claim 12, characterized in that the casing is equipped with means for temporarily retaining the lugs which are intended to set a retracted position of the plate.
14. Module according to any one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the casing (120) comprises means (162) preventing the tongues (135) from flexing when the plate is pushed into the casing.
15. Module according to Claim 10, characterized by external teeth (140) of the casing, which are intended to engage in cut-outs (142) of the plate and oppose the withdrawal of the plate and in that it is equipped with stop means limiting its forward movement with respect to an accommodating mounting plate and with locking means opposing its retreat.
16. Module according to Claim 13, characterized in that the lateral elastic arms extend from the rear of the plate (122) and wrap around the retaining plate, leaving a gap.
17. Module according to Claim 11, characterized in that the casing is equipped with stop means capable of limiting its movement towards a forward position with respect to the mounting plate and with elastic locking means opposing its retreat from the forward position.
18. Plug-in electric connection block (10) comprising:

    a module mounting plate consisting of a rectangular frame with two parallel longitudinal members (18) delimiting a passageway and

    contact bearing modules (16) that can be inserted side by side in the passageway, according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 and 10.

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