EP3105825B1

EP3105825B1 - Cover for a connector housing and connector housing having such cover

Info

Publication number: EP3105825B1
Application number: EP15719830.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Konrad Helmut Roth; Parusuram TUNA
Original assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH; TE Connectivity India Pvt Ltd
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH; TE Connectivity India Pvt Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-11
Filing date: 2015-02-05
Publication date: 2020-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-05
Also published as: WO2015121874A1; EP3105825A1

Description

The invention is related to a cover for a connector housing of a plug-in connector, said cover being attachable to a main body of the housing, wherein the cover comprises at least one terminal insertion channel which extends along a terminal insertion direction, and wherein the cover further comprises at least two elastically deformable terminal guiding elements corresponding to the at least one terminal insertion channel, wherein the at least two terminal guiding elements are located on opposite sides of the terminal insertion channel, facing each other with their guiding surfaces and protruding into the terminal insertion channel. The invention is further related to a connector housing for a plug-in connector.
Covers for connector housings are well known from the prior art. Covers are used to close a connector housing for protection of an interior of the housing. The covers are used for sealed and unsealed connectors. The known covers have terminal insertion channels which allow the insertion of contact terminals into the housing after the cover has been attached to the main body. The terminal insertion channels are often aligned with openings in the main body and/or in the seal for the insertion of the terminals through the seal and/or into the housing. Especially in the case when cables are used, wherein the diameter of the cable is large in comparison to the diameter of the contact terminal, the diameter of the terminal insertion channel may be larger than the opening in the main body and/or in the seal. In that case, a terminal may not enter the opening but encounter the seal or the main body upon insertion. This hinders the insertion process and may lead to damage of the seal, the main body and/or the contact terminal. In order to protect the housing and the contact terminals during insertion, some covers comprise terminal guiding elements which guide or align the contact terminals into a centre of the terminal insertion channel during insertion. US 6,398,585 B1 shows a connector and a cover, wherein the cover comprises guiding plates which extend from the cover in order to guide a contact terminal through a sealing member of the housing and to spread the sealing for letting the terminal pass through it. However, this solution has the disadvantage that the guiding plates may become deformed during assembly of the connector, which bears the risk of damaging the seal or the connector housing or a contact terminal during insertion or even blocking the terminal insertion channel so that a terminal cannot be inserted through the channel anymore.
JP2003092165 discloses a cover for a connector housing of a plug-in connector, which is attachable to a main body of the housing, wherein the cover comprises at least one terminal insertion channel which extends along a terminal insertion direction, and wherein the cover further comprises at least two elastically deformable terminal guiding elements, wherein the at least two terminal guiding elements are located on opposite sides of the terminal insertion channel, facing each other with their guiding surfaces and protruding into the terminal insertion channels.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cover for a connector housing and a connector housing having said cover, which allow the attachment of a cover to a main body of the connector housing without the risk of damaging the guiding elements and which, at the same time, allow a safe insertion of contact terminals through the terminal insertion channels.
This object is achieved by a cover according to claim 1, and in particularly by a cover that comprises stop means, adapted to stop the deformation of the at least two terminal guiding elements at a maximum allowed deformation distance, and at least one receiving volume for the at least one terminal guiding element, adapted to receive the terminal guiding element in a deformed state, wherein the at least one stop means protrudes into the receiving volume in a non-deformed state. The terminal guiding elements may therefore be protected in the channel against damage during production or transport of the cover and during assembly of a connector housing. Another advantage is that a terminal will be guided at an early stage in the insertion process. For the above-mentioned connector housing, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the connector housing further comprises a cover according to the invention.
The stop means may effectively prevent a plastic deformation of the guiding element in order to preserve its elastic deformability. The receiving volume for the terminal guiding elements allows an easy and unhindered deformation of the terminal guiding elements. The volume and the cover may be adapted to protect the guiding elements in a deformed state against damage. The arrangement of two terminal guiding elements, located on opposite sides of the channel, and facing each other with their guiding surfaces, is especially advantageous when it is desired to centre the terminal in the terminal insertion channel. Also, a terminal will be guided by both sides of the channel in interaction with the two terminal guiding elements. During insertion of a terminal, both guiding elements may be deformed perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction and open a space for the terminal to pass through.
This invention allows for a compact structure of the cover and for protection of the terminal guiding elements.
In the following, further improvements of the invention are described. These additional improvements may be combined independently of each other, depending on whether a particular advantage of a particular improvement is needed in a specific application.
According to a first advantageous improvement, at least one of the terminal guiding elements can be located completely inside the channel. In this case, this guiding element will be protected by the cover. In order to produce a simple guiding element, the guiding element may be formed as a latch. The latch can extend basically along the terminal insertion direction. Elastic deformability can be achieved by a elastically deflectable latch. The latch may have a deflectable free end which is arranged at the end of the latch pointing in the terminal insertion direction. The latch may be elastically deflectable perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction.
Elastic deflectability of the latch can be achieved by forming the latch from an elastic material. The latch may also be formed from the same material as the cover and the elastic deflectability can be achieved by using a material thickness for the latch which allows flexibility. The latch may also have a thinned section in order to increase the elastic deflectability. Additionally or alternatively, elastic deformability can be achieved by use of elastically deformable material such as foam or rubber-like materials.
A good guidance of a contact terminal during insertion through the terminal insertion channel can be achieved when the at least one of the terminal guiding elements comprises a guiding surface facing an interior of the terminal insertion channel, wherein an insertion section of the guiding surface is at least partially inclined against the terminal insertion direction. The inclined insertion section may guide a terminal into a position which may be favourable for insertion into a main body of a connector housing.
In order to allow the extraction of an already inserted contact terminal through the cover against the terminal insertion direction, an extraction section of the guiding surface may be at least partially inclined in the terminal insertion direction. The extraction section may lead to an elastic deformation of at least one of the terminal guiding elements during extraction of a terminal against the terminal insertion direction, in order to open the terminal insertion channel for the terminal to pass.
According to another advantageous improvement, the insertion section and/or the extraction section, preferably the guiding surface is smooth and free of edges or breaks. With this improvement, a smooth and uninterrupted insertion and/or extraction of a terminal through the terminal insertion channel can be achieved.
The guiding surface may be curved, wherein the insertion section and the extraction section together form a convex bulge facing into the interior of the terminal insertion channel. Therefore, the insertion section and the extraction section form a continuous part of the guiding surface.
Also, the inclinations of the insertion section and the extraction section define the curvature of the bulge. A smooth and uninterrupted guiding surface can be easily achieved by this improvement. The bulge is preferably formed at the free end of the latch when the terminal guiding element is formed as such. The bulge faces the interior preferably perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction.
The maximum allowed deformation distance may be adapted in a way that a terminal or a terminal and a cable with defined diameters are able to pass the terminal insertion channel.
A very simple stop means can be achieved when the at least one stop means is formed on a side of the terminal guiding element opposite to the guiding surface. The stop means may then be adapted to abut a part of the cover when the maximum allowed deformation distance is reached.
Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the stop means may be formed on a part of the cover being spaced apart from a terminal guiding element in a non-deflected state. The terminal guiding element may then abut the stop means when the maximum allowed deformation distance is reached. The stop means may preferably be arranged at the same height of the terminal insertion channel along the terminal insertion direction as the bulge of the terminal guiding element.
A very compact cover can be achieved when at least one of the stop means is located inside the receiving volume.
The at least one terminal insertion channel and at least one of the corresponding terminal guiding elements may be formed monolithically with the cover. This may lead to a compact and cost-efficient cover.
The connector housing according to the invention may be advantageously improved in that the connector housing further comprises a sealing member which is at least partially located between the main body and the cover in an assembled state. The connector housing may then be used for sealed connectors, for example in wet or dusty environments. The sealing member is preferably a matt seal.
The sealing member may comprise at least one passage for the insertion and/or extraction of the at least one contact terminal. The passage may be longitudinal along the terminal direction.
A terminal which has to be inserted may be guided from the at least two terminal guiding elements to be aligned with an opening of the passage during insertion. Then, damage to the seal may be prevented by the at least two terminal guiding elements.
The terminal insertion channel comprises two terminal guiding elements facing each other. The centre of the terminal insertion channel may thus be aligned with the centre of the passage in the seal. Therefore, a terminal will be guided by both terminal guiding elements to be aligned with the passage in the seal during insertion. The terminal can then be easily inserted into the connector housing through the seal without the risk of damaging the seal, the terminal or the housing.
Guiding of a terminal during insertion or extraction through the terminal insertion channel may be applied in the same way to connector housings without seals. The terminal may then be guided during insertion into cavities in the main body or out of the cavities in order to prevent damage to the main body or to the terminals.
According to another advantageous improvement, at least one of the terminal guiding elements may be spaced apart from the sealing member in the assembled state. Preferably, direct interaction between at least one of the terminal guiding elements and the sealing member is completely prevented. The terminal guiding elements may be deformed during insertion or extraction of a terminal without getting stuck by interaction with the seal.
In the case when no seal is present and the cover is directly attached to a main body of the housing, it is preferable that the at least one terminal guiding element is spaced apart from the main body. Then, an unhindered deformation of the at least one terminal guiding element may be achieved.
In the following, the invention and its improvements are described in greater detail using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the figures. As described above, the various features shown in the embodiments may be used independently of each other in specific applications.
In the following figures, elements having the same function and/or the same structure will be references by the same reference signs.
In the drawings:

Fig. 1: shows a schematic cut view of an embodiment of a connector housing in an assembled state with a cover according to the invention and a contact terminal in an early phase of an insertion process with the terminal guiding elements in a non-deformed state;
Fig. 2: shows the same connector housing with the contact terminal further inserted into the housing;
Fig. 3: shows the same connector housing with the contact terminal at a later phase of the insertion process where the terminal has nearly fully passed the terminal insertion channel and with the terminal guiding elements in a deformed state; and
Fig. 4: shows a schematic cut view of another embodiment of a terminal insertion channel according to the invention.

First, the structure of a first embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 shows a cover 1 according to the invention with a connector housing 3 in an assembled state A. The cover 1 is attached to the main body 5 of the connector housing 3. A sealing element 7 is partly arranged between the cover 1 and the main body 5. The sealing element 7 is formed by a matt seal 7.
The cover comprises closing elements 8 which surround the main body 5 at least partially in the assembled state A. Preferably, the closing elements 8 are sections of a single rim 10, surrounding the main body 5 at least partially in the assembled state A.
A terminal insertion channel 9 of the cover 1 extends along the terminal insertion direction T. The cover 1 may further comprise minor insertion channels 11 which do not comprise guiding elements. The minor insertion channels 11 may have a diameter that is sufficiently small to guide contact terminals and align them for passing the seal 7 without the need for guiding elements. Two terminal guiding elements 13 protrude into the terminal insertion channel 9. The terminal guiding elements 13 are formed by elastically deflectable latches 15. The latches 15 extend basically along the terminal insertion direction. Thinned sections 14 between the free ends 17 and bases 16 increase the elastic deflectability of the latch 15. The latches 15 have free ends 17 which point into the terminal insertion direction T. The latches 15 have smooth guiding surfaces 19 which face each other. The guiding surfaces 19 are formed continuously with inner walls 21 of the terminal insertion channel 9 in the terminal insertion direction T.
At the free ends 17, convex bulges 23 are formed which are arranged opposite to each other. The guiding surfaces 19 extend along the surfaces of the bulges 23. The parts of the guiding surfaces 19 which are inclined against the terminal insertion direction T form the insertion sections 25 of the guiding surfaces 19. The parts of the guiding surfaces 19 which are inclined in the terminal insertion direction T form the extraction sections 27 of the guiding surfaces 19. The guiding surfaces 19 face the interior 29 of the terminal insertion channel. The guiding elements 13 are spaced apart from the sealing member 7 in the assembled state A.
The minimum distance 30 between the guiding surfaces 19 in the non-deformed state N is preferably similar to the diameter 32 of a contact tip 37 of a contact terminal 35. The distance 30 may also be smaller than the diameter 32 for a firm grip of the terminal guiding elements 13 on the contact terminal 35 during insertions. If necessary due to the form and size of the contact terminal, the distance 30 may be longer than the diameter 32.
The cover 1 comprises receiving volumes 31 which are adapted to receive the terminal guiding elements 13 in a deformed state D (shown in Fig. 3). Stop means 33 protrude into the receiving volumes 31 in the non-deformed state N, the stop means 33 being spaced apart from the terminal guiding elements 13.
The terminal guiding elements 13 and the stop means 33 are formed monolithically with the cover 1.
In the following, the insertion process of a contact terminal, the function of the terminal guiding elements and further features of the structure of the first embodiment are described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
A contact terminal 35 has a contact tip 37, a terminal body 39 and a connection end 41. The connection end 41 may be connected to a cable (not shown). Contact terminals 35 may be inserted along the terminal insertion direction T in order to reach a terminal cavity 43 in the main body 5 of the connector housing 3. In order to reach the terminal cavity 43, the contact terminals 35 have to pass the sealing element 7. The sealing element 7 comprises one passage 45 between each terminal insertion channel 9 and the corresponding terminal cavity 43.
When, as in the first embodiment, two terminal guiding elements 13 protrude into the terminal insertion channel 9, the passage 45 in the sealing element 7 and the terminal insertion channel 9 may be aligned around the same centre line C. Due to this alignment, a contact terminal 35 may be easily guided towards an entrance opening 47 of the passage 45 by the terminal guiding elements 13.
Fig. 1 shows a first step of inserting a contact terminal 35 into the connector housing 3 along the terminal insertion direction T. The contact tip 37 is guided along the guiding surfaces 19 in the terminal insertion direction. During further insertion, as shown in Fig. 2, the contact tip 37 is guided by the insertion sections 25 of the guiding surfaces 19 until it is aligned between the bulges 23 of the latches 15.
Fig. 2 shows the contact terminal 35 between the bulges 23 and aligned along the centre line C. Since the centre of the terminal insertion channel 9 is aligned with the centre of the passage 45, the contact terminal 35 may enter the passage 45 along the centre line C during further insertion in the terminal insertion direction T. The contact tip 37 may therefore pass the passage 45 without damaging the sealing element 7.
During further insertion of the contact terminal 35, the terminal body 39 will reach the bulges 23. Since the body 39 is larger in diameter than the contact tip 37, it will deflect the latches 15 in the direction of their corresponding stop means 33. The latches 15 therefore give way for the passage of the contact terminal 35 while they still guide the contact terminal 35 and keep it aligned with the centre line C in the terminal insertion channel 9.
Fig. 3 shows the contact terminal 35 further inserted along the terminal insertion direction T than shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The connection end 41, which is larger in diameter than the terminal body 39, further deflects the latches 15 perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction T. In order to prevent a permanent deformation of the terminal guiding elements 13, the latches 15 abut the stop means 33. The stop means 33 define the maximum allowed deformation distance of the terminal guiding elements 13. Fig. 3 presents the terminal guiding elements 13 in a deformed state D. Upon further insertion of the contact terminal 35 in the terminal insertion direction T, the contact terminal 35 may fully pass through the seal 7.
Depending on the diameter of a cable (not shown) which may extend from the connection end 41 against the terminal insertion direction T, the terminal guiding elements 13 may move back from their deformed state D by relaxation of the elastically deflectable latches 15. If a cable has a similar diameter as the connection end 41, the terminal guiding elements 13 may also maintain the deformed state D because the cable then pushes the terminal guiding elements 13 towards the stop means 33.
In a fully inserted state (not shown) of the contact terminal 35 in the terminal cavity 43, a fixation member 49 of the main body 5 may protrude into a fixation opening 51 of the terminal body 39. The fixation member 49 may directly protrude from a part of the main body 5 that abuts the sealing member 7 against the terminal insertion direction T. This allows a very compact main body 5 of the connector housing 3.
For the extraction (not shown) of the contact terminal 35 from the terminal cavity 43 against the terminal insertion direction T, the contact terminal 35 may first be released by removing the fixation member 49 from the fixation opening 51. This may be achieved by a releasing tool (not shown). Afterwards, the contact terminal 35 may be pushed against the terminal insertion direction T, either by applying pressure on the contact tip 37 against the terminal insertion direction T, or by pulling the cable (not shown) against the terminal insertion direction T.
During extraction, the connection end 41 may encounter the extraction sections 27 of the guiding surfaces 19. Since the extraction sections 27 are inclined in the terminal insertion direction T, the pressure of the connection end 41 against the extraction sections 27 will lead to a deflection of the latches 15 away from the connection end 41. The contact terminal 35 may then be easily extracted through the terminal insertion channel 9 against the terminal insertion direction T without damaging the cover 1.
Fig. 4 shows a cut-out of an example of a cover 1 not forming part of the invention. For the sake of brevity, only the differences to the embodiment as shown with respect to Figs. 1 to 3 are described. The cut-out shown in Fig. 4 presents the near surrounding of a single terminal insertion channel 9. A maximum allowable diameter for a contact terminal (not shown) is indicated by the dashed lines.
A single terminal guiding element 13 protrudes into the terminal insertion channel 9. Therefore, a contact terminal will be guided between the guiding surface 19 of the terminal guiding element 13 and the inner wall 21 of the terminal insertion channel 9. The guiding surface 19 has an insertion section 25 and an extraction section 27. The terminal guiding element 13 is mainly formed as a latch 15. The free end 17 of the latch 15 points in the terminal insertion direction T. A base 16 of the latch 15 is situated at an end 55 of the cover 1 that points against the terminal insertion direction T. This structure allows for the production of a very compact cover 1. The free end 17 of the latch 15 carries a stop means 33. The stop means 33 is formed as a part of the free end 17 pointing away from the inner wall 21 of the terminal insertion channel 9. The stop means 33 protrudes in the non-deformed state N into the receiving volume 31.
Alternatively, a second embodiment may comprise two terminal guiding elements 13 facing each other.

Claims

Cover (1) for a connector housing (3) of a plug-in connector, said cover (1) being attachable to a main body (5) of the housing (3), wherein the cover (1) comprises at least one terminal insertion channel (9) which extends along a terminal insertion direction (T), and wherein the cover (1) further comprises at least two elastically deformable terminal guiding elements (13), wherein the at least two terminal guiding elements (13) are located on opposite sides of the terminal insertion channel (9), facing each other with their guiding surfaces (19) and protruding into the terminal insertion channel (9), characterized in that the cover (1) comprises stop means (33), adapted to stop the deformation of the at least two terminal guiding elements (13) at a maximum allowed deformation distance, and at least one receiving volume (31) for the at least two terminal guiding elements (13), adapted to receive the terminal guiding elements (13) in a deformed state (D), wherein the stop means (33) protrude into the receiving volume (31) in a non-deformed state (N).
Cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the terminal guiding elements (13) comprises a guiding surface (19) facing an interior (29) of the terminal insertion channel (9), wherein an insertion section (25) of the guiding surface (19) is at least partially inclined against the terminal insertion direction (T).
Cover (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that an extraction section (27) of the guiding surface (19) is at least partially inclined in the terminal insertion direction (T).
Cover (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the insertion section (25) and/or the extraction section (27), preferably the guiding surface (19), is smooth and free of edges or breaks.
Cover (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the guiding surface (19) is curved, wherein the insertion section (25) and the extraction section (27) together form a convex bulge (23) facing the interior (29) of the terminal insertion channel (9).
Cover (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the stop means (33) is formed on a side of its corresponding terminal guiding element (13) opposite to the guiding surface (19).
Cover (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the stop means (33) is formed on a part of the cover (1) being spaced apart from a terminal guiding element (13) in the non-deformed state (N).
Cover (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one terminal insertion channel (9) and at least one of the corresponding terminal guiding elements (13) are formed monolithically with the cover (1).
Connector housing (3) for a plug-in connector, comprising a main body (5) for carrying at least one contact terminal (35) characterized in that the connector housing (3) further comprises a cover (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 8.
Connector housing (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that, in an assembled state (A), in which the cover (1) is attached to the main body (5) of the connector housing (3), at least one of the terminal guiding elements (13) is spaced apart from the main body (5).
Connector housing (3) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the connector housing (3) further comprises a sealing member (7) which is at least partially located between the main body (5) and the cover (1) in an assembled state (A).
Connector housing (3) according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the terminal guiding elements (13) is spaced apart from the sealing member (7) in the assembled state (A).