EP1182741A1 - Connecteur électrique - Google Patents

Connecteur électrique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1182741A1
EP1182741A1 EP01202700A EP01202700A EP1182741A1 EP 1182741 A1 EP1182741 A1 EP 1182741A1 EP 01202700 A EP01202700 A EP 01202700A EP 01202700 A EP01202700 A EP 01202700A EP 1182741 A1 EP1182741 A1 EP 1182741A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrical connector
conductor
housing portion
connector according
electrical
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01202700A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Tarik Guenay
Andreas Urbaniak
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
Priority to EP01202700A priority Critical patent/EP1182741A1/fr
Publication of EP1182741A1 publication Critical patent/EP1182741A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01R13/58—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
    • H01R13/5833—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable the cable being forced in a tortuous or curved path, e.g. knots in cable

Definitions

  • the invention concerns an electrical connector with the characteristics of the introductory part of claim 1.
  • Connectors of this kind are basically known and include two housing portions and at least one electrical contact portion for the contacting of electrical cores of a conductor, in particular a flat conductor. Furthermore basically there is provision of tension relief means which is intended to keep mechanical forces away from the electrical contacting in the region of the contact portion.
  • the location of use of such connectors is basically not limited. A preferred location of use is in motor vehicles for the electrical connection of electrical units such as for example door locking modules, window winders or the like, in particular also using CAN bus technology.
  • One object of the present invention is to improve known connectors to overcome the above problem. It is a further object of the invention to provide an easy-to-assemble electrical connector which, with little installation space required, allows improved tension relief of the electrical contact portions. One aim in this connection is also to increase the maximum permitted tensile forces. In particular, electrical contact which is optimised under all circumstances is to be provided, even when the handling of a prefabricated (that is, provided with connector) electrical conductor within the scope of use or installation by the vehicle manufacturer is not done with the necessary care.
  • the two housing portions as a result of a lateral displacement, perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the conductor, can be attached to each other releasably by latch means, and that for tension relief there are provided at least one retaining arm on the side of the housing portions, which at least partially engage in a conductor loop within the scope of the displacement in the lateral direction.
  • a connector 1 in accordance with the present invention is located prefabricated at one end of an electrical conductor 2 shown only partially (Fig. 1).
  • the electrical conductor 2 is a cable, preferably after the fashion of a data bus flat conductor with several electrical cores arranged adjacent to each other.
  • the conductor 2 is for example constructed as a FPC or FFC (flexible printed circuit / flexible flat circuit) and preferably serves for electrical connection of electrical units in a motor vehicle using the CAN protocol.
  • An essential advantage of such flat conductors is their suitability for very restricted installation spaces.
  • the connector 1 is inserted in a corresponding companion part, in particular a connector terminal, not shown, on a central control unit, or on the aforementioned units or on another conductor.
  • the connector 1 is largely cuboid and includes a first housing portion 3 and a second housing portion 4 which are releasably attached to each other.
  • the thickness of the connector 1 (in the z direction) is substantially smaller compared with its width in the transverse direction (cable width, y axis).
  • Inside the housing portions 3, 4 is located at least one electrical contact portion 5 which is preferably made of sheet metal material as a stamped/bent component, and means 8 for tension relief of the conductor 2.
  • Figure 1 can also be seen a latch arm 6 with at least one latch protuberance which serves for releasably locking the whole electrical connector 1 to a connector terminal, not shown, a connector-in socket or the like.
  • the two housing portions 3, 4 are attached to each other releasably in the lateral direction (y axis), perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis a of the conductor as well as parallel to the conductor width, by latch means (latch arms 28, 29).
  • tension relief means 8 for the conductor 2. This consists according to the embodiment shown of a total of three retaining arms 9, 10, 11 on the side of the housing portions, which at least partially engage in a conductor loop 12 within the scope of a lateral displacement of the two housing portions 3, 4.
  • the conductor 2 in the region of the retaining arms 9-11 in the widest sense has a double S shape (two S curves one behind the other), and in the region of each of its changes of direction 13, 14, 15 it abuts by a particular section against a segment of the outer circumference of one of the retaining arms 9-11.
  • the loop 12 has a substantially ⁇ shape.
  • the loop-like change of direction of the conductor 2 causes force and friction conditions which lead to a transmission of tensile force to the housing components 3, 4 and from the latter via the latch arm 6 to a connector terminal or the like.
  • no electrical contact portion 5 is located within the force flux of tensile forces which are exerted on the conductor 2, because such forces are diverted directly to the housing portions 3, 4 before they can reach a contact portion 5.
  • tensile forces which may be exerted on the conductor 2 for example within the scope of the wiring of motor vehicles have no effect on electrical contacting.
  • three retaining arms 9-11 are basically not absolutely necessary, but that with a suitable geometrical layout generally a smaller number of retaining arms is enough to obtain the tension relief effect.
  • a single retaining arm is sufficient to obtain a tension relief effect as a result of self-locking according to the invention.
  • a plurality of retaining arms cause greater protection against failure in the event of one or more of the arms breaking under stress.
  • the first housing portion 3 has a first lateral guide groove 16 for guide sections 17 of the second housing portion 4. Furthermore a second guide groove 18 is provided for second guide sections 19 of the second housing portion 4.
  • These guide sections 17, 19 allow reliable, easy and mechanical connector assembly.
  • the two guide grooves 16, 18 have a different cross-section.
  • a first groove 16 has a rectangular cross-section, while the other groove 18 (compared with the first groove 16) in addition to altered size ratios also has a sloping surface 20 at the bottom.
  • the grooves 16, 18 are arranged asymmetrically. All these measures, of which basically just one on its own would be sufficient, serve to allow connection of the first housing portion 3 to the second housing portion 4 in only one configuration and position. If consequently within the scope of mechanical assembly there are sizing errors in the supply of parts, incorrect assembly is nevertheless prevented.
  • the two retaining arms 9, 10 provided on the first housing portion 3, 4 are provided in the lateral direction of extent as well as parallel to each other (and to the conductor width) and each have a free end 20, 21 which has a conical section 22, 23 facilitating assembly or some other reduction of cross-section.
  • This free end 20, 21 each of the retaining arms 9, 10 on the side of the housing portions engages in the assembled state in one associated recess 24, 25 of the other housing portion 4, so that there is reliable support of each retaining arm 9, 10 at each of its ends 20, 21.
  • the embodiment shown in the figures is characterised in that the conductor loop 12 to a certain extent can be fed laterally into the slot 26 between the two retaining arms 9, 10, which slot 26 is open at one end.
  • a further slot 27 in the second housing portion 4 allows passage of the conductor. This passage can if necessary, as moreover can the whole connector, be sealed.
  • a third retaining arm 11 provided on the second housing portion 4 is shown in detail in Figure 5. It should be noted that a centre-to-centre distance b between the two retaining arms 9, 10 (of the first housing portion 3) is smaller than the diameter of the third retaining arm 11. The precise centre-to-centre distance b here depends essentially on the thickness and flexibility of the FPC conductor. Moreover the third retaining arm 11 is offset laterally, in the direction of thickness, from the retaining arms 9, 10 which are aligned with each other.
  • the slope 31 together with a ramp 32 on the latch arm 28, 29 facilitates introduction and elastic deformation of the latch arm 28, 29 until the latter engages with a latch edge 33 behind the latch recess 30.
  • the first housing portion 3 Laterally of the latch arm 28, 29 the first housing portion 3 has recesses which allow control of the snap-fitted latch arms 28, 29.
  • the latch arm 28, 29 can be pushed back, for example for dismounting, so that the form-locking effect of the latch arm 28, 29 is eliminated.
  • Laterally mounted ribs 34 in the region of the latch recess 30 protect against accidental release. It should be pointed out that ribs with the same function can also be provided for the latch arm 6 for attachment of the whole electrical connector 1 to a connector terminal.
  • an electrical contact portion 5 made of sheet metal strip material arranged in a partially closed recess 40 of the first housing portion 3, with two elastically yielding contact arms 41, 42. Ribs 43, 44 between each pair of contact arms 41, 42 serve for reliable separation and insulation from each other. As can be seen, the contact portion 5 has at its arm end a certain axial clearance c from a terminal axial boundary 45. No special locking is required in this direction because in this respect only minor pull-off forces (on separation of the connector-in connection) arise, which are moreover taken up by the tension relief means.
  • each contact portion 5 has at least one elastically radially outwardly pointing spring tongue 46 which engages behind a bottom wall 49 provided on a bottom 47 of a supply channel 48 for the contact portion 5.
  • the spring tongue 46 thus resists pulling out of the contact portion in the direction of the conductor axis a in form-locking relationship.
  • a redundant axial form-locking means (second locking means) is provided in the event that the spring tongue 46 fails.
  • the guide section 19 in the axial direction at least partially blocks the supply channel 48. This means that the contact portion 4 (if the spring tongue 46 breaks) in any case can fit by a rear side 49 against a front 50 of the guide section 19.
  • the connector 1 has extremely stable behaviour even if the tension relief means 8 breaks, and the whole of the tensile force is transmitted via the contact portion 5 to the housing portions 3, 4.
  • several bent crimp points 51, 52, 53 are provided for electrical contacting and attachment of the contact portion 5 to the conductor 2.
  • Each crimp 51-53 is originally for example angled in a U shape and in each case passes with two arms through the conductor, which are finally bent round at the ends.
  • the figure shows for optimisation of passage of the conductor a profile which is to some extent trihedral for the two aligned retaining arms 9, 10, and a round profile for the retaining arm 11 of the second housing portion 4.
  • the retaining arm 11 moreover engages with a free end 54, which is not conical in the embodiment, in a recess of the first housing portion 3.
  • Laterally protruding grip sections 55, 56 or recessed gripping indentations allows easy dismounting of the connector 1.
  • FIG. 6 can be seen a modified embodiment of the invention suitable for two flat conductors, wherein automatically operating means for loop formation are also associated with two retaining arms 57, 58 for two flat conductors, not shown.
  • first insertion surfaces 59, 60 which are provided terminally on each of the retaining arms 57, 58, and cooperate with respectively associated second insertion surfaces 61, 62 on the first housing portion 63.
  • One flat conductor is in this case fed slightly (to right or left) off a centre point 64 which is preferably tapered like a cutting edge between the two retaining arms 57, 58 until the conductor is diverted on one first insertion surface 59 or 60 and, on account of the action of the latter, pulled laterally outwards to form a loop.
  • a connector 68 according to the second embodiment, consisting of first housing portion 63, second housing portion 66, and electrical contact portion 67 (with non-deformed crimp arms).
  • the guide means for the two housing portions 63, 66 are here arranged symmetrically so that the construction of a plastic injection moulding tool for manufacture of the housing portions 63, 66 is significantly simplified.
  • These measures can however be converted according to the characteristics of the first embodiment if reliability of assembly is important.
  • all the characteristics of the first embodiment particularly also concerning guiding and latching of the two housing portions 63, 66 and the connector on a terminal, can be provided without departing from the invention. A description of them and presentation in detail have however been dispensed with for the sake of a simplified overview, although equivalent parts have been given the same reference numerals.
  • the third embodiment of electrical connector 70 is also suitable for two flat conductors 2.
  • the first housing portion 72 comprises a first part 74, and a second part 76 which is attached to the first part by a film hinge 78.
  • the second part 76 has a retaining arm 80 adjacent the free end 82 which extends in the lateral direction as described above.
  • the first part 74 has a groove 84 formed therein which extends in the lateral direction, and which corresponds in shape and size to the retaining arm 80.
  • the retaining arm 80 and the groove 84 have a curved surface.
  • the second part 76 makes a snap fit with the first part 74 by way of a latch tab 86 engaging in an aperture 88.
  • the second housing portion 66 and electrical contact portion 67 are substantially identical to the corresponding parts of the second embodiment shown in Figure 8.
  • the second housing portion 66 is inserted into the first housing portion 64 in the lateral direction, and the second part 76 is snap fitted to the first part 74.
  • the flat conductors 2 are positioned adjacent the groove 84.
  • the flat conductors 2 are pushed by the retaining arm 80 into the groove 84 to automatically form the conductor loop 12.
  • Other features of the third embodiment, such as the guiding and latching of the two housing portions 72,66 are provided, but not described in further detail.
  • the lateral displacement described within the scope of manufacture can both be caused by the fact that the conductor 2, in particular a film-like conductor, is unrolled from reels, and then laterally the two housing portions 3, 4, 63, 66, 72 are fitted on. It is however equally conceivable to fix at least one housing portion 3, 63, 72 laterally, and then to insert the conductor 2 and subsequently the other housing portion 4, 66 laterally.
  • insertion surfaces 59, 60, 61, 62, or arm 80 and groove 84 facilitate introduction of the conductor 2 as well as loop formation substantially, because separate tools for conductor loop formation can be eliminated.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP01202700A 2000-08-23 2001-07-16 Connecteur électrique Withdrawn EP1182741A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01202700A EP1182741A1 (fr) 2000-08-23 2001-07-16 Connecteur électrique

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00202950 2000-08-23
EP00202950 2000-08-23
EP01202700A EP1182741A1 (fr) 2000-08-23 2001-07-16 Connecteur électrique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1182741A1 true EP1182741A1 (fr) 2002-02-27

Family

ID=26072626

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01202700A Withdrawn EP1182741A1 (fr) 2000-08-23 2001-07-16 Connecteur électrique

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EP (1) EP1182741A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102742093A (zh) * 2010-02-03 2012-10-17 矢崎总业株式会社 连接器

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2541521A1 (fr) * 1983-02-17 1984-08-24 Kontakta Alkatreszgyar Dispositif de soulagement pour conducteurs d'appareils electriques
DE9215169U1 (de) * 1992-11-09 1993-01-07 Albert Ackermann GmbH & Co KG, 5270 Gummersbach Stecker für Schwachstromgeräte
US5626491A (en) * 1995-08-18 1997-05-06 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector strain relief for cable

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2541521A1 (fr) * 1983-02-17 1984-08-24 Kontakta Alkatreszgyar Dispositif de soulagement pour conducteurs d'appareils electriques
DE9215169U1 (de) * 1992-11-09 1993-01-07 Albert Ackermann GmbH & Co KG, 5270 Gummersbach Stecker für Schwachstromgeräte
US5626491A (en) * 1995-08-18 1997-05-06 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector strain relief for cable

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102742093A (zh) * 2010-02-03 2012-10-17 矢崎总业株式会社 连接器
EP2533373A1 (fr) * 2010-02-03 2012-12-12 Yazaki Corporation Connecteur
EP2533373A4 (fr) * 2010-02-03 2013-06-05 Yazaki Corp Connecteur
US9011174B2 (en) 2010-02-03 2015-04-21 Yazaki Corporation Connector with cable protecting projection
CN102742093B (zh) * 2010-02-03 2015-09-09 矢崎总业株式会社 连接器

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