EP1024560B1 - Zweiteiliger elektrischer Verbinder - Google Patents

Zweiteiliger elektrischer Verbinder Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1024560B1
EP1024560B1 EP99204554A EP99204554A EP1024560B1 EP 1024560 B1 EP1024560 B1 EP 1024560B1 EP 99204554 A EP99204554 A EP 99204554A EP 99204554 A EP99204554 A EP 99204554A EP 1024560 B1 EP1024560 B1 EP 1024560B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
slide
electrical connector
extending
wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99204554A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1024560A3 (de
EP1024560A2 (de
Inventor
Oliver Hackel
Thomas Drescher
Klaus Storandt
Peter Schekalla
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delphi Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Delphi Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delphi Technologies Inc filed Critical Delphi Technologies Inc
Publication of EP1024560A2 publication Critical patent/EP1024560A2/de
Publication of EP1024560A3 publication Critical patent/EP1024560A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1024560B1 publication Critical patent/EP1024560B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/44—Means for preventing access to live contacts
    • H01R13/447—Shutter or cover plate
    • H01R13/453—Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
    • H01R13/4538—Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62905—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances comprising a camming member
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62977—Pivoting levers actuating linearly camming means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62933—Comprising exclusively pivoting lever

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a two-part electrical connector in which a pair of slide members are used for mating and unmating of the two parts.
  • a two-part electrical connector with a lever for mating and unmating of the two parts is disclosed in EP-A-0722203, which describes an electrical connector according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the lever is substantially U-shaped and is pivotally mounted on the housing of one part of the connector.
  • a pair of slide members are also mounted on the same housing and slide on pivoting of the lever.
  • the slide members have cam surfaces which engage corresponding cam followers on the housing of the other part of the connector. Pivoting of the lever causes the slide members to slide to mate or unmate the two parts of the connector.
  • Female terminals are mounted in bores in a body member of the other part of the connector.
  • Terminal pins are mounted in bores in a body member of the one part of the connector and protrude from the body member for mating with the female terminals.
  • the protruding terminals pins are susceptible to bending or damage prior to mating of the two parts of the connector.
  • An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention is characterised by the features specified in Claim 1.
  • the plate member of the first part provides protection for electrical terminals extending from the through bores in the body member when the plate member is in the fully unmated position.
  • the two-part electrical connector 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a first part 12 and a second part 14.
  • Each part 12,14 is capable of receiving and retaining electrical contacts or terminals (not shown).
  • the terminals in the first part mate with, and complete an electrical connection with, the corresponding terminals in the second part.
  • Any suitable type of terminals may be used, but parts of the terminals of the first part 12 are exposed when the two parts are disconnected.
  • the first part 12 mates (mechanically and electrically connects) or unmates (mechanically and electrically disconnects) with the second part 14 by moving the parts relative to one another in an axial direction X.
  • the first part 12 of the connector 10 comprises a housing 16 of electrically insulating material, which is preferably plastics material, and which is preferably moulded in one piece.
  • the housing 16 comprises first and second side walls 18,20 and end walls 22.
  • Each side wall 18,20 has a lower wall 24 and an upper wall 26.
  • the lower wall 24 and the upper wall 26 of each side wall 18,20 define, internally of the housing 16, slide surfaces 28 for a slide member 30,31, respectively, positioned adjacent the side wall.
  • Each slide surface 28 extends in a direction Y which is substantially perpendicular to the mating axis X.
  • Each slide member 30,31 (which is preferably moulded in one piece from plastics material) is inserted into the housing 16 by way of slots 32 formed between the side walls 18,20 and the end walls 22.
  • a pair of spaced apertures 38 are formed in the upper wall 26 of each side wall 18,20.
  • Each slide member 30,31 has a pair of inclined channels 46 formed therein which open at an opening 48 through an upper edge 50 of the slide member.
  • the channels 46 are open sided and formed on the internal surface of each slide member 30,31.
  • the openings 48 in each slide member 30,31 have the same spacing as the apertures 38 in the corresponding side wall 18,20, such that the openings 48 can align with the apertures.
  • the channels 46 in each slide member 30,31 are inclined in the same direction at the same angle and open inwardly towards the other slider.
  • the lower edge 54 and the upper edge 50 of each slide member 30,31 makes a sliding fit with the slide surface 28 of the lower wall 24 and the upper wall 26 of the corresponding side wall 18,20.
  • the connector 10 further comprises a substantially U-shaped lever 58.
  • Each arm 60 of the lever 58 has an aperture 62 and a pin 64, the apertures being substantially aligned and the pins being substantially aligned.
  • Each arm 60 passes through a longitudinally extending (in the direction Y) slot 66 formed in each side wall 18,20 and the aperture 62 in each arm makes a snap fit with a corresponding pin (not shown) formed internally on the side wall.
  • the pins define a pivot axis for the lever 58 to allow the lever to pivot relative to the housing 16.
  • the pin 64 of each arm 60 makes a sliding fit in a slot 70 formed in the corresponding slide member 30,31.
  • Each slot 70 extends in substantially the mating axis X, opens through the upper edge 50 of each slide member 30,31.
  • the first part 12 of the connector 10 also includes a body member 34 which is positioned internally of the housing 16.
  • the body member 34 includes a number of through bores 36 which extend in the mating direction X.
  • An electrical terminal (not shown) is positioned in each bore 36 and protrudes from the body member 34 into the space between the side walls 18,20 and the end walls 22 towards the upper wall 26 of each side wall.
  • a terminal retaining member 40 has arms 42 which extend through laterally extending bores 44 in the body member 34 to retain the terminals in position in the through bores 36.
  • the second part 14 of the connector 10 has a housing 78 having side walls 80 and end walls 82.
  • a pair of pins 84 is formed externally on each side wall 80.
  • the pins 84 on each side wall 80 have the same spacing at the apertures 38 in the lower wall 26 of the corresponding side wall 18,20 of the housing 16 of the first part 12.
  • the side walls 80 and end walls 82 of the housing 78 of the second part 14 fit inside the side walls 18,20 and end walls 22 of the housing 16 of the first part 12.
  • the pins 84 pass through the apertures 38 and slide along the inclined channels 46 formed in the slide members 30,31 in such a manner that the pins define cam followers and the channels define cam surfaces.
  • the housing 78 has a number of through bores 86 which align with the through bores 36 of the body member 34 of the first part 12.
  • the through bores 86 each have electrical terminals (not shown) mounted therein which electrically connect with the protruding terminals in the first part 12 on mating of the first and second parts 12,14.
  • a terminal retaining member 88 has arms 90 which extend through laterally extending bores 92 in the housing 78 to retain the terminals in position in the through bores 86.
  • the lever 58 Prior to mating, the lever 58 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2. In this position of the lever 58, the openings 48 in the inclined channels 46 align with the apertures 38 in the upper walls 26 of the side walls 18,20 of the housing 16. The second part 14 of the connector 10 is then moved into position for mating with the pins 84 on the housing 78 of the second part passing through the apertures 38 in the upper wall 26 of each side wall 18,20 of the housing 16 of the first part 12 and into the inclined channels 46 in the slide members 30,31. To mate the first and second parts 12,14, the lever 58 is pivoted relative to the housing 16 of the first part towards the fully mated position shown in Figure 3.
  • the first part 12 of the connector 10 includes a substantially rigid plate member 100 having a number of apertures 102 therein.
  • the plate member 100 is positioned inside the housing 16.
  • the apertures 102 align with the through bores 36 in the body member 34.
  • the plate member 100 has side edges 104 which are directed towards the side wall 18,20 of the housing 16 and the slide members 30,31.
  • Each side edge 104 has two laterally extending pins 106.
  • Each slide member 30,31 has two corresponding inclined channels 108 which open at an opening 110 through the lower edge 54 of the slide member.
  • the pins 106 in each side edge 104 have the same spacing as the opening 110 in each slide member 30,31.
  • the channels 108 are open sided and formed on the internal surface of each slide member 30,31.
  • each slide member 30,31 are inclined in the same direction at the same angle and open inwardly towards the other slide member.
  • the pins 106 slide along the inclined channels 108 in such a manner that the pins define cam followers and the channels define cam surfaces.
  • Such relative sliding causes the plate member 100 to move towards and away from the body member 34 in the direction of the mating axis X.
  • the plate member 100 is spaced from the body member 34 to substantially cover the terminals (not shown) protruding from the through bores 36 in the body member.
  • the plate member 100 is substantially in engagement with the body member 34 and the electrical terminals in the through bore 36 of the body member protrude through the apertures 102 in the plate member for mating with the corresponding terminals in the second part 14 of the connector 10.
  • the slide members 30,31 are preferably identical.
  • the lower edge 54 of each slide member 30,31 preferably has a rib 112 which makes a sliding fit in a corresponding groove 114 in the slide surface 28 in the lower wall 24 of each side wall 18,20 to ensure correct installation of the slide members in the housing 16 of the first part 12.
  • the housing 16 may include an additional side wall 116 positioned internally of the slide members 30,31, the additional side walls having slots 118 which extend in the direction of the mating axis X which provide access to the channels 46,108 in the slide members 30,31.
  • the lever 58 may be replaced by any other suitable arrangement for driving (moving) the slide members 30,31.
  • a single pin 106 in the side edge 104 of the plate member 100 and a single corresponding channel 108 in each slide member 30,31 may be used rather than two pins and two channels.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Elektrischer Verbinder (10) mit einem ersten Teil (12), das mit einem zweiten Teil (14) entlang einer Achse (X) koppelbar ist, wobei das erste Teil ein Gehäuse (16) mit gegenüberliegenden Seitenwänden (18, 20) und gegenüberliegenden Endwänden (22) aufweist, wobei jede Seitenwand eine obere Wand (26) und eine untere Wand (24) besitzt, die gegenüberliegende Gleitflächen (28) definieren, die sich in einer Richtung (Y) im Wesentlichen rechtwinklig zu der Kopplungsachse erstrecken, wobei erste und zweite beabstandete Durchbrechungen (38) in der oberen Wand jeder Seitenwand ausgebildet sind; einem Gleitelement (30, 31), das benachbart jeder Seitenwand positioniert ist, wobei jedes Gleitelement einen oberen Rand (50) und einen unteren Rand (54) aufweist, die einen Gleiteingriff mit den Gleitflächen der oberen Wand bzw. der unteren Wand der Seitenwände bilden, wobei ein Paar schräg gestellter Nockenflächen (46) Öffnungen (48) in dem oberen Rand aufweist, die mit den Durchbrechungen in der oberen Wand der Seitenwände in Ausrichtung gebracht werden können; einem Körperelement (34), das innerhalb des Gehäuses positioniert ist und Durchgangsbohrungen (36) aufweist, die sich in der Kopplungsrichtung erstrecken; und einem Antriebsmittel (58, 64) an dem Gehäuse, das mit jedem Gleitelement in Eingriff steht, um jedes Gleitelement relativ zu der benachbarten Seitenwand zu verschieben; wobei das zweite Teil ein Gehäuse (78) mit Seitenwänden (80) und Endwänden (82) aufweist, die innerhalb der Seitenwände und Endwände des Gehäuses des ersten Teils positionierbar sind, wobei das Gehäuse des zweiten Teils Durchgangsbohrungen (86) aufweist, die mit den Durchgangsbohrungen in dem Körperelement in Ausrichtung gebracht werden können, wobei jede Seitenwand des Gehäuses des zweiten Teiles ein Paar beabstandeter Nockenstößel (84) aufweist, die durch die Durchbrechungen in den oberen Wänden und die Öffnungen in den schräggestellten Nockenflächen für eine Gleitbewegung entlang der Nockenflächen verlaufen können, wobei eine Betätigung des Antriebsmittels das zweite Teil relativ zu dem ersten Teil entlang der Kopplungsachse zwischen einer vollständig entkoppelten Position und einer vollständig gekoppelten Position bewegt,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes Gleitelement eine schräggestellte Nockenfläche (108) aufweist, die sich von seinem unteren Rand in einer Richtung im Wesentlichen parallel zu den schräggestellten Nockenflächen erstreckt, die sich von seinem oberen Rand erstrecken; und wobei das erste Teil ein Plattenelement (100) umfasst, das zwischen dem Körperelement und dem Gehäuse des zweiten Teils positioniert ist, wobei das Plattenelement Durchbrechungen (102) aufweist, die mit den Durchgangsbohrungen in Ausrichtung gebracht werden können, Seitenränder (104) aufweist, die in Richtung der Seitenwände des Gehäuses des ersten Teiles geführt sind, und einen Nockenstößel (106) aufweist, der sich von jedem Seitenrand erstreckt und verschiebbar mit der Nockenfläche in Eingriff steht, die sich von dem unteren Rand des benachbarten Gleitelementes erstreckt, wobei eine Betätigung des Antriebsmittels das Plattenelement relativ zu dem Körperelement zwischen einer vollständig entkoppelten Position, in der das Plattenelement von dem Körperelement beabstandet ist, und einer vollständig gekoppelten Position bewegt, in der das Plattenelement im Wesentlichen in Eingriff mit dem Körperelement steht.
  2. Elektrischer Verbinder nach Anspruch 1,
    wobei das Plattenelement (100) ein Paar Nockenstößel (106) aufweist, die sich von jedem Seitenrand (104) erstrecken; und wobei jedes Gleitelement (30, 31) ein entsprechendes Paar schräggestellter Nockenflächen (108) aufweist, die sich von seinem unteren Rand (54) erstrecken.
  3. Elektrischer Verbinder nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2,
    wobei die Nockenstößel an dem Plattenelement (100) sich quer erstreckende Stifte (106) sind, und die entsprechenden Nockenflächen an den Gleitelementen (30, 31) schräggestellte Kanäle (118) sind.
  4. Elektrischer Verbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
    wobei die Gleitelemente (30, 31) im Wesentlichen identisch sind.
  5. Elektrischer Verbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
    wobei der untere Rand (54) jedes Gleitelementes (30, 31) eine Rippe (112) besitzt, die eine Gleitpassung in einer entsprechenden Nut (114) in der Gleitfläche (28) in der unteren Wand (24) jeder Seitenwand (18, 20) des Gehäuses (16) des ersten Teiles (12) bildet.
  6. Elektrischer Verbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5,
    wobei das Gehäuse (16) des ersten Teiles (12) eine zusätzliche Seitenwand (116) umfasst, die innerhalb der Gleitelemente (30, 31) positioniert ist.
  7. Elektrischer Verbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6,
    wobei das Antriebsmittel einen im Wesentlichen U-förmigen Hebel (58) mit einem Paar von Armen (60) umfasst, die schwenkbar an den Seitenwänden (18, 20) des Gehäuses (16) des ersten Teiles (12) befestigt sind, wobei jeder Arm einen Stift (64) aufweist, um mit einem der Gleitelemente (30, 31) beim Schwenken des Hebels relativ zu dem Gehäuse des ersten Teiles in Eingriff zu treten und dieses zu bewegen.
  8. Elektrischer Verbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7,
    wobei die Nockenflächen, die sich von dem oberen Rand (50) jeder Gleiteinrichtung (30, 31) erstrecken, durch seitlich offene schräggestellte Kanäle (46) definiert sind, und die Nockenstößel an dem Gehäuse (78) des zweiten Teiles (14) durch Stifte (84) definiert sind, die an den Seitenwänden (80) des Gehäuses ausgebildet sind.
EP99204554A 1999-01-29 1999-12-24 Zweiteiliger elektrischer Verbinder Expired - Lifetime EP1024560B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9901953.1A GB9901953D0 (en) 1999-01-29 1999-01-29 Two-part electrical connector
GB9901953 1999-01-29

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1024560A2 EP1024560A2 (de) 2000-08-02
EP1024560A3 EP1024560A3 (de) 2001-01-03
EP1024560B1 true EP1024560B1 (de) 2003-06-11

Family

ID=10846705

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99204554A Expired - Lifetime EP1024560B1 (de) 1999-01-29 1999-12-24 Zweiteiliger elektrischer Verbinder

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1024560B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69908746T2 (de)
GB (1) GB9901953D0 (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3492309B2 (ja) 2000-11-02 2004-02-03 エフシーアイジャパン株式会社 コネクタ
JP3994838B2 (ja) * 2002-09-24 2007-10-24 住友電装株式会社 コネクタの組付け構造
US7094081B1 (en) * 2005-03-24 2006-08-22 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector assembly
JP4941064B2 (ja) 2007-04-09 2012-05-30 住友電装株式会社 レバー式コネクタ

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4775327A (en) * 1987-02-17 1988-10-04 Amphenol Corporation Connector with automatic protection cap
FR2702889B1 (fr) * 1993-03-18 1995-04-21 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Connecteur électrique .
DE69530364T2 (de) * 1995-01-16 2004-02-12 Molex Inc., Lisle Elektrischer Steckverbinder mit verbessertem Nockensystem
JP3316116B2 (ja) * 1995-09-19 2002-08-19 タイコエレクトロニクスアンプ株式会社 電気コネクタ
US5888081A (en) * 1996-08-08 1999-03-30 Sumitomo Wiring Systems Inc. Lever connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69908746D1 (de) 2003-07-17
EP1024560A3 (de) 2001-01-03
GB9901953D0 (en) 1999-03-17
EP1024560A2 (de) 2000-08-02
DE69908746T2 (de) 2004-05-13

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