EP1611646B1 - elektrische verbinderbaugruppe - Google Patents

elektrische verbinderbaugruppe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1611646B1
EP1611646B1 EP04758991A EP04758991A EP1611646B1 EP 1611646 B1 EP1611646 B1 EP 1611646B1 EP 04758991 A EP04758991 A EP 04758991A EP 04758991 A EP04758991 A EP 04758991A EP 1611646 B1 EP1611646 B1 EP 1611646B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
connector
receptacle
plug connector
guide
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
EP04758991A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1611646A1 (de
Inventor
Byung-Chan Yoon
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.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
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
Priority claimed from KR1020030020872A external-priority patent/KR100543773B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR10-2003-0010038A external-priority patent/KR20030069111A/ko
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Priority claimed from PCT/US2004/009315 external-priority patent/WO2004093257A1/en
Publication of EP1611646A1 publication Critical patent/EP1611646A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1611646B1 publication Critical patent/EP1611646B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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  • This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a connector assembly which includes a pair of mating connectors.
  • an electrical connector assembly typically includes a first electrical connector mateable with a second electrical connector.
  • a receptacle connector may receive a plug connector in mated condition.
  • Each connector includes some form of dielectric housing which mounts a plurality of conductive terminals engageable with the terminals of the other connector.
  • one connector may mount a plurality of socket terminals for receiving pin terminals of the other connector.
  • Such a connector is disclosed in EP-A-843386.
  • such electrical connectors mount a rather sizable number of terminals.
  • a large number of electrical wires, circuits or other conductive devices lead to and from a large number of fuses, relays, electrical motors, power accessories, and the like, all of which may be mounted in a single electrical connector which, itself, may even include both power terminals and signal terminals.
  • Electrical connectors with such large number of terminals create various problems.
  • the two connectors of the connector assembly be precisely aligned in order to assure that the large number of terminals in the two connectors can be interengaged or mated. Cumulative manufacturing tolerances with large number of terminals, alone, can cause alignment problems. Therefore, the two mating connectors cannot be allowed to twist, turn or shift during mating.
  • the present invention is directed to solving these various problems by providing improvements in such electrical connector assemblies and the mating connectors thereof.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 1.
  • the electrical connector assembly includes a receptacle connector having a first housing with a rear body portion having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages mounting a plurality of first terminals therein, along with a front mating portion defining a receptacle.
  • a plug connector includes a second housing sized and shaped for insertion in a mating direction into the receptacle defined by the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector.
  • the second housing has a plurality of terminal-receiving passages mounting a plurality of second terminals for mating with the first terminals of the receptacle connector.
  • Complementary interengaging guide means are provided between the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector and the second housing of the plug connector for guiding the connectors into mated condition.
  • Locking means are provided between the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector and the second housing of the plug connector for locking the connectors in mated condition.
  • the complementary interengaging guide means include a first guide groove in a top portion of the second housing of the plug connector extending in the mating direction and receiving a first guide rib projecting downwardly into the receptacle from a top of the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector.
  • a second guide groove is provided in a bottom portion of the second housing of the plug connector extending in the mating direction and receiving a second guide rib projecting upwardly into the receptacle from a bottom of the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector.
  • a pair of the first guide grooves are spaced laterally relative to the mating direction and respectively receive a pair of laterally spaced first guide ribs.
  • a third guide groove is provided in the top portion of the second housing of the plug connector extending in the mating direction and receiving a third guide rib projecting downwardly into the receptacle from the top of the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector.
  • the guide means further includes a guide slot extending in the mating direction in each of a pair of side walls of the front mating portion of the first housing of the receptacle connector.
  • a pair of guide projections protrude from opposite sides of the second housing of the plug connector for riding in the slots.
  • the locking means include a pair of latch posts projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the second housing of the plug connector through the slots.
  • a U-shaped latching lever has a pair of latch arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the first housing of the receptacle connector. The latch arms are joined by a cross portion to define the U-shape. The latch arms have cam grooves for receiving the latch posts on the plug connector to pull the connectors into mated condition in response to pivoting the latching lever.
  • the locking means include a separate locking member detachably mounted on the second housing of the plug connector and engageable with the cross portion of the U-shaped latching lever on the first housing of the receptacle connector to lock the latching lever in its latched position of mating of the connectors.
  • the locking member has a plurality of mounting hooks engageable with engagement shoulders on the second housing of the plug connector.
  • the locking member has a locking projection engageable in a locking groove in the cross portion of the U-shaped latching lever.
  • the invention include preliminary latch means between the cross portion of the U-shaped latching lever and the second housing of the plug connector, the latch means being independent of the locking means.
  • the latching posts have locating detent notches for receiving detent projections formed in the cam grooves in the latch arms of the U-shaped latching lever to properly position the lever angularly for pivotal movement to mate the connectors.
  • an electrical connector assembly generally designated 10, which includes a receptacle connector, generally designated 12, having a latching lever, generally designated 14, pivotally mounted thereon and a plug connector, generally designated 16, having a locking member detachably mounted thereon.
  • Receptacle connector 12 mounts a plurality of conductive pin terminals 20, and plug connector 16 mounts a plurality of socket terminals 22.
  • Pin terminals 20 are mounted in a plurality of terminal-receiving passages 24 (Fig. 2), and socket terminals 22 are mounted in a plurality of terminal-receiving passages 26 (Fig. 2).
  • socket terminals 26 of plug connector 16 receive pin terminals 20 of receptacle connector 12.
  • the pin and socket terminals may be terminated to a plurality of discrete electrical wires (not shown).
  • Connector assembly 10 may be used in such applications as automobiles or other vehicles where impacts and vibrations are encountered.
  • Pin and socket terminals 20 and 22, respectively, may be 3V, 5V and 12V terminals, for instance.
  • receptacle member 12 includes a terminal fixing member, generally designated 28, having a plurality of through passages 28a.
  • Plug connector 15 also includes a terminal fixing member, generally designated 30, having a plurality of through passages 30a.
  • terminal fixing members 28 and 30 are positioned into internal slots 28b and 30b, respectively, in receptacle connector 12 and plug connector 16, respectively.
  • the terminal fixing members are movable from preliminary, terminal-loading positions to allow terminals 20 and 22 to be inserted into their respective terminal-receiving passages 24 and 26.
  • terminal fixing members 28 and 30a are aligned with terminal-receiving passages 20 and 22, respectively, so that the terminals can be fully inserted into their respective passages.
  • terminal fixing members 28 and 30 are pushed in the direction of arrows "B" to the terminal fixing positions shown in FIG. 2, whereat the terminal fixing members engage shoulders on the terminals to prevent the terminals from being pulled out of their passages.
  • receptacle connector 12 includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 32, which has a rear body portion 34 and a front mating portion 36.
  • the housing may be a one-piece structure unitarily molded of plastic material.
  • the rear body portion is formed with the terminal-receiving passages 24 within which pin terminals 20 are mounted.
  • Front mating portion 36 defines a receptacle 40 for matingly receiving plug connector 16.
  • Receptacle 40 defined by front mating portion 36 is shaped to conform to the outer profile of plug connector 16 and includes a mating face 40a.
  • complementary interengaging guide means are provided between front mating portion 36 of housing 32 of receptacle connector 12 and plug connector 16 for guiding the connectors into mated condition.
  • a pair of laterally spaced first guide ribs 42 project downwardly into receptacle 40 from a top of the front mating portion 36 of housing 32 of receptacle connector 12.
  • a pair of laterally spaced, second guide ribs 44 project upwardly into receptacle 40 from a bottom of the front mating portion.
  • a third, enlarged guide rib 46 projects downwardly into receptacle 40 from a top of the front mating portion between the first pair of guide ribs 42.
  • housing 32 of receptacle connector 12 includes a pair of recesses 54 between first guide ribs 42 and third guide rib 46, for purposes described hereinafter.
  • Latching lever 14 is a mating assist lever and is generally U-shaped to define a pair of latch or lever arms 56 joined by a bight or cross portion 58.
  • a hooked latch projects inwardly from cross portion 58, and a pair of outwardly opening locking grooves 58b are formed in the outside surface of cross portion 58 to form locking shoulders.
  • a pivot hole 60 is formed in each latch or lever arm 56 for receiving a respective latch post 52 projecting outwardly from housing 32.
  • the hole has a radially extending cut-out portion 60a for receiving hook 52a of pivot post 52. Therefore, latching lever 14 can be mounted to housing 32 only by aligning hooks 52a of pivot post 52 with the cut-out areas 60a of pivot holes 60.
  • FIG. 5 shows that latching lever 14 is pivotable in the direction of double-headed arrow "C" about pivot posts 52 from a preliminary mating position shown by full lines and a latched or fully mated position shown in phantom, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
  • plug connector 16 includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 66, which may be a one-piece structure molded of plastic material.
  • the housing includes the terminal-receiving passages 26 which receive socket terminals 22 (Fig. 3).
  • a pair of first guide grooves 70 in a top portion of the housing receive the first guide ribs 42 of the receptacle connector.
  • a pair of second guide grooves 72 in a bottom portion of housing 66 receive the second guide ribs 44 of the receptacle connector.
  • An enlarged third guide groove 74 receives the third guide rib 36 of the receptacle connector.
  • a cam follower projection or latch post 76 projects outwardly from each opposite side of housing 66.
  • Each latch post has a shank portion 76a and an enlarged head 76b.
  • a locating detent notch 76c is formed in the latch post and faces in the mating direction of the connector.
  • An elongated guide rib 78 extends rearwardly from latch post 76 in the mating direction.
  • a pair of locking member locating walls 80 project upwardly from housing 66 of plug connector 16 for receiving or locating locking member 18 (Fig. 6) in a position shown in FIG. 8.
  • a locking member coupling structure is disposed between locating walls 80.
  • the coupling structure includes a locking hole 84 having chamfered first locking shoulders 84a at opposite sides thereof. Another side of the hole defines a latching shoulder 84b. Second locking shoulders 86 are formed near the bottom of locating walls 80.
  • locking member 18 includes a body 90 which may be a one-piece structure molded of plastic material.
  • the body includes a pair of locking projections 92 which extend forwardly in the mating direction.
  • a pair of first mounting hooks 94 project downwardly from the body, and a pair of second mounting hooks 96 also project downwardly from the body but outside first mounting hooks 94.
  • a pair of coupling grooves 98 are formed on the underside of body 90, one groove 98 being disposed outside each first mounting hook 94 and inside the respective second mounting hook 96.
  • Locking member 18 is mounted to the top of plug connector 16 in the direction of arrow "D" in FIG. 8.
  • first mounting hooks 94 on the underside of the locking member snap into latching engagement with the chamfered first locking shoulders 84a (Fig. 7A) of coupling structure 82.
  • Second mounting hooks 96 snap into locking engagement with second locking shoulders 84.
  • Grooves 98 on the underside of the locking member receive coupling projections 100 which project upwardly from coupling structure 82.
  • the plug connector is inserted into receptacle 40 of the receptacle connector, as the cam follower projections or latch posts 76 on the outsides of the plug connector are inserted into guide slots 48 in side walls 50 of the receptacle connector.
  • Precise guiding of the plug connector into the receptacle connector is effected as follows: (1) first guide ribs 42 of the receptacle connector move into first guide grooves 70 of the plug connector, (2) second guide ribs 44 of the receptacle connector move into second guide grooves 72 of the plug connector, (3) third guide rib 46 of the receptacle connector moves into third guide groove 74 of the plug connector and (4) elongated guide ribs 78 which trial behind latch post 76 on the plug connector ride into guide slots 48 of the receptacle connector.
  • the elongated guide ribs 78 prevent the two connectors from relative movement in a vertical direction and prevent relative pivoting movement about horizontal axes generally perpendicular to the mating direction. This entire guide means system ensures that the connectors are aligned precisely and, in turn, precisely aligns socket terminals 22 of the plug connector with pin terminals 20 of the receptacle connector.
  • Separate locking member 18 then is used to completely lock the latching lever in its mated position. This is accomplished by mounting the locking member onto the plug connector in the direction of arrow "D" in FIG. 8, and as described above. When the locking member is so mounted, locking projections 92 of the locking member are positioned in locking grooves 58b of the latching lever so that the latching lever cannot move back out of its final position of mating of the connectors.
  • hooked latch 58a and latching shoulder 84b form a preliminary latch means for mating assist lever 14.
  • Locking member 18 forms a final locking means for the mating assist lever.
  • the preliminary latch means is engaged automatically when the mating assist lever reaches its fully mated position.

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

Claims (8)

  1. Elektrisches Steckerbauteil (10), umfassend:
    eine Steckerbuchse (12) mit einem ersten Gehäuse (32), das einen hinteren Gehäuseteil (34) mit einer Mehrzahl von Durchgängen zur Aufnahme von Anschlussklemmen (24) für die Halterung einer Mehrzahl erster Anschlusselemente (22) und einen vorderen Kopplungsabschnitt (36), der einen Buchsenteil (40) festlegt, aufweist;
    ein Stecker (16) mit einem zweiten Gehäuse (66), der eine für das Einführen in Kopplungsrichtung in den Buchsenteil geeignete Größe und Form aufweist, die durch den vorderen Kopplungsabschnitt des ersten Gehäuses der Steckerbuchse festgelegt werden, und wobei das zweite Gehäuse eine Mehrzahl von Durchgängen zur Aufnahme von Anschlussklemmen (26) zur Halterung einer Mehrzahl zweiter Anschlusselemente (22) für die Verbindung mit den ersten Anschlusselementen der Steckerbuchse aufweist;
    zueinander komplementäre, ineinander greifende Führungselemente (42, 44, 46, 48, 70, 72, 74, 78), die zwischen dem vorderen Kopplungsabschnitt (32) des ersten Gehäuses der Steckerbuchse und dem zweiten Gehäuse (66) des Steckers angeordnet sind und die dazu dienen, die Stecker bis zu einem gekoppelten Zustand zu führen, wobei die zueinander komplementären, ineinander greifende Führungselemente folgendes umfassen:
    ein Paar erster Führungsnuten (70), die in einem oberen Bereich des zweiten Gehäuses des Steckers angeordnet sind und welche sich in Kopplungsrichtung erstrecken, wobei die Führungsnuten zueinander einen Abstand lateral zur Kopplungsrichtung aufweisen und ein Paar von Führungsrippen (44) aufnehmen, die aus einem vorderen Kopplungsabschnitt des ersten Gehäuses der Steckerbuchse von einem oberen Bereich ausgehend nach unten herausragen,
    eine zweite Führungsnut (72) in einem unteren Bereich des zweiten Gehäuses des Steckers, die sich in Kopplungsrichtung erstreckt und die eine zweite Führungsrippe (44) aufnimmt, welche von einem Bodenbereich des vorderen Kopplungsabschnitts des ersten Gehäuses der Steckerbuchse ausgehend nach oben in den Buchsenteil hinein vorsteht;
    Führungsschlitze (48), die sich in Kopplungsrichtung in jeder der beiden Seitenwandungen (50) des vorderen Kopplungsabschnitts (36) des ersten Gehäuses der Steckerbuchse (12) erstrecken, und ein Paar von Vorsprüngen zur Führung (78), die voneinander gegenüberliegenden Seiten des zweiten Gehäuses (66) des Steckers (16) vorstehen und die zum Entlanggleiten in den Führungsschlitzen dienen; und
    Verschlusselemente (18) zwischen der Steckerbuchse und dem zweiten Gehäuse des Steckers zur Verriegelung der Stecker im gekoppelten Zustand, umfassend
    ein Paar von Verschlussstutzen (76), die in auswärtiger Richtung von gegenüberliegenden Seiten des zweiten Gehäuses (66) des Steckers (16) durch die Führungsschlitze (48) hindurchreichend herausstehen, und ein U-förmiger Verschlusshebel (14) mit einem Paar von Verschlussarmen (56), die drehbar an zueinander gegenüberliegenden Seiten des ersten Gehäuses (32) der Steckerbuchse (12) gehaltert sind, die Verschlussarme sind über einen Stegabschnitt (58) zur Ausbildung einer U-Form miteinander verbunden, wobei die Verschlussarme gekrümmte Führungsschlitze (62) zur Aufnahme der Verschlussstutzen (76) des Steckers aufweisen, um die Stecker als Reaktion auf eine Drehbewegung am Verschlusshebel in die Kopplungsstellung zu ziehen.
  2. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 1, wobei die zueinander komplementären, ineinander fassenden Führungselemente ferner eine dritte Führungsnut (74) in dem oberen Bereich des zweiten Gehäuses des Steckers umfassen, die sich in Kopplungsrichtung erstrecket und welche eine dritte Führungsrippe (46) aufnimmt, die vom oberen Bereich des vorderen Kopplungsabschnitts des ersten Gehäuses der Steckerbuchse ausgehend nach unten in den Buchsenteil hinein vorsteht.
  3. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Verschlusselemente ferner ein zentrales Verschlusselement (18) umfassen, das abnehmbar am zweiten Gehäuse des Steckers gehaltert ist und welches mit dem Stegabschnitt (58) des U-förmigen Verschlusshebels (14) am ersten Gehäuse der Steckerbuchse in Verbindung gebracht werden kann, um den Verschlusshebel in seiner Verschlussstellung zur Kopplung der Stecker zu verriegeln.
  4. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 3, wobei das Verschlusselement (18) eine Vielzahl von Haltehaken (94, 96) umfasst, die mit Halteschultern (84a, 86) am zweiten Gehäuse des Steckers in Wirkverbindung treten können.
  5. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 4, wobei das Verschlusselement (18) eine Verschlussnase (92) umfasst, die mit einer Verschlussnut (58b) im Stegabschnitt (58) des U-förmigen Verschlusshebels (14) in Wirkverbindung treten kann.
  6. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 1, umfassend Verschlusselemente (58a, 84b) zwischen dem Stegabschnitt (58b) des U-förmigen Verschlusshebels (14) und dem zweiten Gehäuse des Steckers.
  7. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Verschlussstutzen (76) Zentrierungsnuten zur Aufnahme von Sperrklinken (76c) aufweisen, die dazu dienen, Zentrierungsvorsprünge (64) aufzunehmen, die in den gekrümmten Führungsschlitzen (62) der Verschlussarme (56) des U-förmigen Führungshebels (14) ausgebildet sind, um bei einer Drehbewegung zur Kopplung der Stecker die Winkelstellung des Hebels genau festzulegen.
  8. Steckerbauteil nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Führungsvorsprünge längliche Rippen (78) umfassen, die sich von den Verschlussstutzen (76) ausgehend in Kopplungsrichtung erstrecken.
EP04758991A 2003-04-02 2004-03-26 elektrische verbinderbaugruppe Expired - Lifetime EP1611646B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020030020872A KR100543773B1 (ko) 2003-04-02 2003-04-02 차량용 커넥터 조립체
KR10-2003-0010038A KR20030069111A (ko) 2002-02-19 2003-04-02 실시간 초음파 영상을 사용한 위치 감지
PCT/US2004/009315 WO2004093257A1 (en) 2003-04-02 2004-03-26 Electrical connector assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1611646A1 EP1611646A1 (de) 2006-01-04
EP1611646B1 true EP1611646B1 (de) 2007-01-31

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EP04758991A Expired - Lifetime EP1611646B1 (de) 2003-04-02 2004-03-26 elektrische verbinderbaugruppe

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EP (1) EP1611646B1 (de)
DE (1) DE602004004584T2 (de)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011056556B4 (de) * 2011-12-16 2016-01-21 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Gehäuse für einen optischen oder elektrischen Steckverbinder zur Verwendung mit und ohne Hebel sowie Baukasten mit einem solchen Gehäuse

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EP1611646A1 (de) 2006-01-04
DE602004004584T2 (de) 2007-11-15
DE602004004584D1 (de) 2007-03-22

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