EP4228104A1 - Connector provided with a locking cover to a complementary connector and means for securing the locking and the related coupling between connectors, and method for mating the connector and the complementary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention essentially consists of a means which makes it possible to secure, preferably by mechanical interference, the fact that the locking cover effectively locks the housing of the connector to that of a complementary connector.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors.

The invention aims in particular to improve the mutual locking between two housings of complementary connectors, in particular of multi-contact connectors, when they are in the connected configuration.

Although described with reference to a preferred application, aeronautics, and more particularly, the field of equipment on board an aircraft, the invention can be implemented in any other application.

Prior technique

In many connector technology applications, it is known to mutually lock a connector with the complementary one of the same assembly, once their connection configuration has been made, that is to say the coupling between their respective contacts has been ensured. .

This is particularly necessary when the environment in which the connection assembly is present is subject to significant environmental constraints, as may be the case in aircraft and in particular when the assembly is mounted on a panel of on-board equipment. in an aircraft.

Several solutions have already been implemented as locking means.

First of all, a screw-nut locking system is known, which is found for example in the connection assemblies marketed by the Applicant under the name EPX ^® B2: the base carries a nut fixed to the case in its part central between the two contact inserts, while the socket has a central hole through which a screw can be screwed into the nut to obtain the desired locking.

A quarter-turn fastening system is also known, which is found for example in the connection assemblies marketed by the Applicant under the name EPX ^® A, EPX ^® B1: the base bears on either side of the central housing a male cylinder provided with two lugs projecting outwards, and the socket carries a female cylinder with lights facing each of the male cylinders.

We represented in figure 1 a socket 2 with its casing 20 as it exists under the name EPX ^® B1: fixing is ensured by means of a screwdriver, by quarter-turn screwing according to the arrow R, of the interface cavity 21 of each female cylinder 22 which allows the sliding of the lugs in the corresponding slots 23 up to one of their ends to obtain the desired locking. On the other hand, the generally successive actuation of these two quarter-turn indentations 21 runs the risk of causing misalignment. An operator can even lock the second imperfectly without realizing it. On the other hand, the implementation time is also greater.

Finally, it is widely known to implement a locking cover which is actuated by manual sliding on the housing of one of the connectors, the cover comprising shapes cooperating with complementary shapes of the housing of the complementary connector to obtain the blocking in translation of the cover and therefore the desired locking.

So the patent EP1708313B1 thus proposes a connection assembly comprising a locking cover between two multi-contact connectors, one of which is fixed to a support, the movement of the cover comprising locking teeth being carried out manually by sliding on the housing.

The patent EP2503651B1 also discloses a locking cover to be moved manually on the case of one of the two multi-contact connectors, the other being already mounted on an electronic equipment panel.

We reproduced in figure 2A And 2B , a connection assembly 1 with plug 2 and base 3 which implements such a locking cover 4. This connection assembly 1 is mounted on a panel P which is for example that of a housing of electronic equipment, in particular equipment on board an aircraft or in a switch panel. More precisely, the base 3 is mounted in an opening of the panel P to which the housing 30 of the base 3 is fixed there by means of screws 5.

The substantially U-shaped locking cover 4 is slidably mounted on the housing 20 of the socket 2 between its front connection face 24 and its rear face 25, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis X, that is to say along longitudinal faces 26, 27. Each of the wings of the U internally comprises slots/grooves 40 with suitable shapes. Each of the longitudinal faces 31 of the housing 30 of the base 3 is provided with two lugs 32.

To achieve locking as shown in figure 2B , an operator comes to exert, with his finger, a lateral thrust force T on the cowl 4 from its extreme remote position, from unlocking. The blocking of the cover 4 in its extreme close position, which is the locking position, is obtained by the wedging of each lug 32 of the housing 30 inside a slot 40 of the cover 4.

In order to have the possibility of easy locking in an environment constrained in terms of available space and/or which requires the application of a significant locking force, the Applicant has proposed in the patent application EP3879639A1 , a mechanism for transforming the rotational movement by a tool of an interface part housed in the casing of a connector, into a translation in a plane perpendicular to the direction of coupling of a locking cap to lock the casing of the connector to that of a complementary connector. An example of such a mechanism, in particular with a cam, is shown in Fig. 2C : Once the connection has been made between two complementary connectors 2, 3, an operator locks them together by sliding the locking cover 4 on the housing 30 of the connector 3 from its unlocked position to its locked position. To do this, it fits a hexagonal key H in the hexagonal recess 51 of an interface part 50 arranged on a lateral side of the box 20 and performs a rotation of at least 180°. The operator is assured that the cover 4 is indeed in the locking position because on the one hand a lug 52 is in abutment against a relief 200 of the box 20 and on the other hand, an area of color not shown is completely invisible. by the operator because hidden, and that finally he perceived the collapse of the torque to be applied.

Furthermore, in order to reduce the assembly or disassembly time of the base 3 in the opening O of a panel P, while avoiding the need to use a tool, the Applicant has proposed in the patent EP2654137B1 , to provide the base with removable fastening means with hooks for fastening to the panel, at least one of which is connected to a tab serving as a support for an operator's finger.

We reproduced at figures 3 and 4 , respectively an example of a manual fixing step of such a connector base in the opening O of a panel P, and the base once fixed.

The base 3 of the multi-contact connector comprises two attachment parts 6 each comprising at least one hook 60 for fixing the case, each mounted sliding on the case 30, perpendicular to its axis X, between at least one retracted release position and at least one deployed securing position.

The two attachment parts 6 move apart when they each slide from their retracted position ( picture 3 ) to their deployed position ( figure 4 ).

Each attachment part 6 comprises a tab 61 each serving as a support for an operator's finger ( picture 3 ) and which extends parallel to the axis X and on the side of the rear face of the box 30 and of the rear face A of the panel P.

Two springs, separate from the attachment parts 6, not shown, are each mounted free in a housing of the box 30 while being on the one hand in abutment against the latter and on the other hand in abutment against an attachment part 6. Each spring, preferably in the form of a helical compression spring, exerts on the casing 30 a thrust force perpendicular to the axis X of the casing, at least in a deployed position and in the absence of support on a tongue. 61 corresponding.

Furthermore, instead of fixing screws 5 shown in figures 1 to 2B , the connector base 3 may comprise, on each of its lateral ends, a protrusion 33 serving as a plane bearing surface against the rear face A of the panel P. A guide pin 34 configured to cooperate with an opening of a panel P, can protrude from one of the support surfaces 33. A male polarizer 35 configured to cooperate with a female polarizer of a plug / socket complementary to the base 1, can protrude from the other surface of support 31.

The guide pin 34 and the male polarizer 35 do not necessarily serve as a means of fixing the base 1 but one and/or the other of the pin 34 or the polarizer 35 can be used to carry out a complementary fixing of the screw type. /nut.

The steps for fixing such a connector base 3 to the panel P from its rear face A are therefore as follows.

An operator first positions the box 30 opposite the opening O of the panel P and simultaneously presses with a finger on each of the two tabs 61, thus bringing the two attachment parts 6 closer to one another. other, as indicated by the two arrows pointing towards each other in picture 3 .

Then the operator introduces the box 30 partly into the opening O of the panel P while maintaining the pressure on the two tabs 61. If necessary, the guide pin 34 and the polarizer 35 serve as a guide, each cooperating with a side opening to the opening O of the panel.

Once the box 30 is partly housed in the opening O of the panel P, with, if necessary, its protrusions 33 resting against the rear face A of the panel P, the operator releases the pressure on the two tabs 61.

The fixing hooks 60 then come to bear against the edge of the opening O in a deployed fixing position, this position being determined according to the thickness of the panel P and the dimensions of the opening O.

Thus, in this correct mounting position, the fixing hooks 60 somehow hang the panel P.

However, in certain circumstances, in particular in the event of reduced accessibility to the assembly area of the connectors or in the event of reduced flexibility of the harness (rigidity of the cables, clamping of the cables over a short distance), such assembly may be incorrect, in the sense that only one of the two fixing hooks 60 is actually hooked on the rear face A of the panel P, although visually this is not discernible by the operator.

And this may prove to be unsatisfactory as explained below with reference to figures 5 to 7 .

The connection between the plug/socket 2 and the base 3, which is therefore imperfectly attached to the panel P, is also imperfect. In other words, the coupling between these two complementary connectors 2, 3 is not perfectly achieved.

Incorrect mating between complementary connectors 2, 3 can also occur without the socket being incorrectly installed on the panel. Incorrect mating can also result from an insufficient rapprochement between the complementary connectors or from a connector 2 presented in a non-parallel manner facing connector 3 and/or insufficiently inserted into connector 3.

And during this incomplete coupling phase, the wings of the U of the cover 4 tend to move away from each other in their free end portion, that is to say that far from the bottom of the U .

This spacing can go so far as to bring out at least one of the lugs 32 for locking the light/groove 40 of the cover 4 in which it was slidably mounted.

In addition, one or even the two wings of the U of the cover 4 can also come out of their guide along the longitudinal faces 26, 27 of the housing 20 of the plug/socket 2. In particular, if the wings 42, 43 of the U of the cover 4 are provided with guide tabs/ribs 44 provided to slide along guide rails 36 provided for this purpose respectively in the housing 30 of base 3, tabs 44 on the side of the free end of the wings of the U of cover 4 come out of slideways 36.

Thus, in the end, even though the operator apparently thinks that the locking is correctly done once he has slid the cover 4 to its extreme close position to the plug/socket 2, that is to say even when the visual safety marking is no longer visible and/or the sensitive pin is detectable by touch, there is in fact an imperfect coupling of the complementary connectors 2, 3 with the possibility of contacts that are not perfectly coupled together.

There is therefore a need to further improve the mutual locking between complementary connectors, in particular in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and therefore to secure the locking and thereby the connection, that is to say the prior mutual coupling between the connectors .

The invention aims to meet all or part of this need.

Disclosure of Invention

• un boîtier d'axe longitudinal (X), comprenant une face avant, dite face de connexion, par laquelle la connexion à un connecteur de type complémentaire comprenant un boîtier complémentaire, est réalisée, et une face arrière,
• un capot de verrouillage du connecteur au connecteur complémentaire, ledit capot étant monté sur le boîtier et adapté pour coulisser, transversalement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal (X) du boîtier, entre une position de déverrouillage et une position de verrouillage entre boitier et boitier complémentaire,
• un au moins un moyen de sécurisation de l'accouplement et du verrouillage, le(s) moyen de sécurisation étant adapté(s) pour bloquer mécaniquement le coulissement du capot de verrouillage avant qu'il n'atteigne sa position de verrouillage, en cas de déformation au moins partielle du capot engendrée par un accouplement incorrect.

To do this, the subject of the invention is, according to one of its aspects, a connector, in particular a multi-contact connector, comprising:

• a longitudinal axis box (X), comprising a front face, called the connection face, through which the connection to a complementary type connector comprising a complementary box, is made, and a rear face,
• a cover for locking the connector to the complementary connector, said cover being mounted on the housing and adapted to slide, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (X) of the housing, between an unlocking position and a locking position between the housing and the housing complementary,
• at least one means for securing the coupling and the locking, the securing means(s) being adapted to mechanically block the sliding of the locking cover before it reaches its locking position, in the event of at least partial deformation of the cover caused by an incorrect coupling.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the means for securing the coupling and the locking consisting of a means of mechanical interference between at least a part of the deformed cover and an element of the connector housing.

According to another advantageous embodiment variant, the locking cap has, in the undeformed state, in section in a plane perpendicular to the axis X, a substantially U-shape, with a back and two parallel wings connected to the back and each adapted to slide on one of the longitudinal faces of the housing from the locking position.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the case has at least one relief whose lateral edge forms the means of mechanical interference with the free end of one of the two wings and/or of a tongue and/or rib arranged at said free end.

According to this mode, the relief preferably comprises a guide groove in which the guide tab arranged at the free end is adapted to be inserted into the correct locking position.

Advantageously, at least one of the two wings comprises one or more guide tabs adapted to be inserted and slide in a guide slideway provided on the housing and/or in a guide slideway provided in the housing of the connector complementary.

According to an advantageous variant embodiment, the box comprises a pin, the locking cover comprises a through hole in which the pin of the box is housed by projecting from the cover in its locked position, forming a sensitive locking indicator.

According to another advantageous embodiment variant, the connector comprises at least one visual indicator arranged so as to be visible to an operator in any position, from the unlocking position of the cover to its locking position in which it is masked. The visual indicator is preferably an area of apparent color made on the box.

The connector can constitute a multi-contact connector, in which the case houses at least one insert comprising cells which extend along the longitudinal axis (X) and which each house a contact.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the connector comprises a mechanism for transforming rotational movement into sliding of the locking cover, the mechanism comprising an interface part with a tool, the part being mounted free to rotate in a housing of the housing and adapted to be rotated by the tool, according to an angular stroke causing the locking cover to slide from its unlocked position to its locked position and vice versa.

The interface piece may comprise an interface imprint with the tool, preferably a hollow hexagonal imprint.

• la pièce d'interface comprend à sa périphérie un pion faisant saillie vers la face avant du boîtier,
• le capot comprend une rainure de forme complémentaire avec celle du pion,

le pion étant monté coulissant dans la rainure dont la forme est telle que lorsque la pièce d'interface est mise en rotation par l'outil sur la course angulaire, le pion en coulissement dans la rainure déplace en coulissement le capot de sa position de déverrouillage à sa position de verrouillage et inversement.According to an advantageous embodiment variant, the mechanism is a slide mechanism, in which:

• the interface part comprises at its periphery a pin projecting towards the front face of the case,
• the cover includes a groove of a shape complementary to that of the pin,

the pin being slidably mounted in the groove, the shape of which is such that when the interface part is rotated by the tool over the angular stroke, the slidable pin in the groove slidably displaces the cover from its unlocked position to its locked position and vice versa.

• un connecteur tel que décrit précédemment, de type fiche/prise
• un connecteur complémentaire, de type embase.

The invention also relates to an electrical connection assembly, comprising:

• a connector as described previously, of the plug/socket type
• a complementary connector, of the base type.

In other words, the invention essentially consists of a means which makes it possible to secure, preferably by mechanical interference, the fact that the locking cover effectively locks the housing of the connector to that of a complementary connector.

1. i/ réaliser la connexion par accouplement, au moins partiel, de leur face avant entre connecteur et connecteur complémentaire,
2. ii/ faire coulisser en translation le capot de verrouillage de sa position de déverrouillage vers sa position de verrouillage,
3. iii/ - si le coulissement du capot selon l'étape ii/ est bloqué par le moyen de sécurisation alors réitérer les étapes i/ et ii/ ;
   • sinon atteindre la position de verrouillage dans laquelle le capot est bloqué par rapport au boîtier du connecteur.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling the connector and the complementary connector of the assembly as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

1. i/ make the connection by coupling, at least partially, of their front face between connector and complementary connector,
2. ii/ slide the locking cover in translation from its unlocked position to its locked position,
3. iii/ - if the sliding of the cover according to step ii/ is blocked by the securing means then repeat steps i/ and ii/;
   • otherwise reach the locking position in which the cover is locked relative to the connector housing.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the method further comprises, once the locking position according to step iii/ has been reached, the following step:
iv/ check locking by means of the sensitive and/or visible indicator.

• détecter un mauvais accouplement du connecteur avec le connecteur complémentaire,
• garantir à coup sûr l'accouplement et le verrouillage corrects entre deux connecteurs complémentaires, notamment de type multi-contacts,
• un verrouillage aisé pour les opérateurs,
• un contrôle fiable par indicateur sensitif et/ou visuel permettant à n'importe quel opérateur de s'assurer de l'accouplement et du verrouillage corrects entre deux connecteurs complémentaires.

The advantages of the invention are numerous compared to the existing one, among which we can mention:

• detect poor mating of the connector with the complementary connector,
• guarantee with certainty the correct coupling and locking between two complementary connectors, in particular of the multi-contact type,
• easy locking for operators,
• reliable control by sensitive and/or visual indicator allowing any operator to ensure correct coupling and locking between two complementary connectors.

The applications envisaged for the invention are numerous, among which mention may be made of electrical connections within aircraft.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge better on reading the detailed description of examples of implementation of the invention given by way of non-limiting illustration with reference to the following figures.

Brief description of the drawings

• [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 shows in perspective view an example of a quarter-turn locking system used for the mutual locking between two multi-contact connectors of an electrical connection assembly according to the state of the art.
• [ Fig 2A ] there figure 2A is a perspective view of an electrical connection assembly according to the state of the art, with a cover for interlocking the multi-contact connectors in its unlocked position.
• [ Fig 2B ] there figure 2B is a perspective view of an electrical connection assembly according to figure 2A but with the locking cover in its locking position.
• [ Fig 2C ] there Fig. 2C is a perspective view of another electrical connection assembly according to the state of the art, with a locking cap actuated from its rear face by a mechanism for transforming the rotational movement into a translation by a tool.
• [ Fig.3 ] there picture 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a step for attaching a connector base according to the state of the art to a panel, the picture 3 showing the support of two fingers of an operator for this fixing step.
• [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 is a cross-sectional and perspective view of the case, of the base fixed to the panel according to the state of the art.
• [ Fig.5 ] there figure 5 is a perspective view of an incorrect coupling and locking configuration between complementary connectors according to the state of the art.
• [ Fig 5A ] there figure 5A is a detail view of the figure 5 .
• [ Fig 6 ] there figure 6 is another perspective view of the configuration according to the figure 5 .
• [ Fig 7 ] there figure 7 is a side view of the configuration of the figure 5 .
• [ Fig.8 ] there figure 8 is a perspective view of a connector forming a socket/plug provided with a locking cap to a complementary base, according to the invention.
• [ Fig 9A ],[ Fig 9B ], [ Fig.9C ], [ Fig 9D ], [ Fig 9E ], [ Fig 9F ] THE figures 9A to 9F illustrate different stages of connection and correct locking between complementary connectors according to the invention.
• [ Fig. 10 ],[ Fig 10A ] THE figure 10 And 10A illustrate an incorrect locking detection configuration with complementary connectors according to the invention.
• [ Fig.11 ] there figure 11 is a perspective view of a connector forming a socket/plug provided with a locking cap to a complementary base, according to a variant embodiment of the invention.
• [ Fig 12],[Fig 12A ] THE figures 12 and 12A illustrate an incorrect lock detection configuration with the variant according to the figure 11 .

detailed description

Throughout this application, the terms "vertical", "lower", "upper", "low", "high", "below" and "above" are to be understood with reference to an electrical connector according to the invention with a box and its locking cover in a configuration arranged horizontally.

Similarly, the terms “internal” and “external” are to be understood with respect to the casing of the electrical connector according to the invention.

For the sake of clarity, the same numerical reference is used for the same element of an electrical connection assembly according to the state of the art and of an electrical connection assembly according to the invention.

THE figures 1 to 7 have already been described in detail in the preamble. They will therefore not be commented on below.

We represented on the figure 8 an example of a plug-type connector according to the invention, generally designated by the reference 2.

The multi-contact connector 2 of the male type, in particular a plug, is intended to be connected to a complementary connector 3 of the female type, in particular a base.

Connectors 2 and 3 are intended to house contacts which convey optical, radiofrequency, electrical or power signals. The contacts can be of the same type. As a variant, signals or power of different types can be conveyed by the connectors 2, 3 and contacts of different size and type are then simultaneously implemented.

These contacts can be single or multiple contacts such as coaxial or triaxial contacts, quadrax contacts, RJ45 or any type of high speed contacts. These contacts (not shown) can also be optical contacts with lensed contacts of the “expanded beam” type or “physical contact” contacts of the ARINC 801 or EN 4531 type or even optoelectronic contacts.

The multi-contact connector 2 extends along a longitudinal axis X and comprises a casing 20 which in the example described is made from a single piece of plastic material. The front face 24 and the rear face 25 of the housing 20 are parallel and extend perpendicular to the axis X.

An insert 5 with a plurality of cells is housed in the housing 20. Each cell is intended to house part of a contact, not shown, another part of which, housed in a cell 200 of the housing 20, projects beyond the face front 24 of connection of the box 20.

A locking cap 4 is slidably mounted on the box 20, transversely to the longitudinal axis X of coupling of the plug with the base, that is to say along an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X, to mutually lock connectors 2 and 3 when they are in the connected configuration, that is to say coupled to each other. The locking hood 4 can also assist or finalize the mating of connector 2 on complementary connector 3, then mutually lock connectors 2 and 3 once mated.

The locking cover 4 of the connector 2 comprises, as a visual locking indicator, an area of apparent color Z, that is to say visible by an operator, from the unlocking position of the cover 4 until its locked position in which zone Z is hidden by box 20, as detailed below.

As illustrated, the locking cap 4 has, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), a substantially U-shape.

The cover 4 thus comprises a back 41 coming opposite a side face of the box 20 and two parallel wings 42, 43 coming respectively opposite a part of the upper longitudinal face 26 of the box 2 and a part of the lower longitudinal face 27 of the casing 20. Thus, each wing 42, 43 of the U of the cover 4 is intended to slide along a longitudinal face 26, 27 of the casing 20.

Each of the wings 42, 43 of the U internally comprises slots/grooves 40 with shapes adapted to each cooperate with a lug 32 provided on one of the longitudinal faces 31 of the housing 30 of the base 3, as explained below.

A wing 42, 43 may comprise on each of its longitudinal edges one or more guide ribs/tabs 44 extending continuously or not along an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X.

These guide tabs 44 are adapted to slide along guide rails 36 provided for this purpose respectively in the housing 30 of the base 3.

The back 41 of the cover 4 is pierced with a through hole 45 to allow a pin 29 to pass projecting from the side face of the case 20, so that when the cover 4 is in its locking position, the pin 29 projects at the -beyond the back 41 of the cover 4 thus forming a finalized locking sensory indicator, detectable blind by an operator.

According to the invention, at least one of the longitudinal faces 26, 27 of the casing 20 comprises, on its lateral edge opposite to that facing the back 41 of the cover 4, a relief 7, 8 projecting with respect to said face 26, 27 .

Each relief 7, 8 has a general L-shaped section, the interior of which forms a locking groove 70, 80 and a lateral edge 71, 81 forming a mechanical interference means as explained below.

At least one wing 42, 43 of the cover 4 comprises at its longitudinal end a guide tab 46, 47.

In the example shown in figures 8 to 10A , the guide tab 46 is in the form of an L-shaped lug offset from the wing 42 towards the inside of the cowl, while the guide tab 47 is formed by the very end of the wing 43, possibly curved inwards. A rib 48 is arranged projecting from and set back from the longitudinal end 47.

In the event of correct locking, each guide tab 46, 47 is housed in a groove 70, 80, at the end of the sliding stroke of the cover 4, in the locking position. In particular, the end 47 of the wing 43 is housed in the groove 80.

In the event of poor coupling, that is to say in the event of deformation/deflection of at least one of the wings 42, 43 of the cover 4 which separates it from the longitudinal face 26, 27 of the box 4 on which it must slide, then the guide tab 46, 47, and if necessary the rib 48 comes into abutment against the mechanical interference means 71, 81, preventing incorrect locking.

This deformation of one and/or the other of the wings 42, 43 may be caused beforehand by poor coupling of the connectors 2, 3 between them, itself generated by poor initial fixing of the connector forming the base 3 to a fixing panel, as detailed below.

• le pion 29 ne fasse pas saillie du capot 4 et donc que l'indicateur sensitif ne soit pas détectable par un opérateur, et/ou
• la zone de couleur apparente Z soit visible et donc que l'indicateur visuel de verrouillage soit toujours visible de l'opérateur.

Also, as described below, in addition to the mechanical interference produced by abutment between guide tabs 46, 47 and mechanical interference means 71, 81, provision can be made that in the event of incorrect locking:

• the pin 29 does not protrude from the cover 4 and therefore the sensitive indicator is not detectable by an operator, and/or
• the apparent color zone Z is visible and therefore the visual locking indicator is always visible to the operator.

We now describe with reference to figures 9A to 9F , the method for fixing, connecting and correctly locking a connection assembly with the two complementary connectors 2, 3 according to the invention to a panel.

It is specified here that the panel is not shown as such, but that it corresponds to a panel like that of the prior art represented P with an opening O in figure 5 and that he is for example integrated into a casing of electronic equipment, for example of equipment on board an aircraft or in a switch panel.

Step 1/: the operator approaches the opening of the panel, the base 3 with its box 30 in which is housed at least one insert 9 with contact housing cells.

Step 2/: the operator then inserts the base 3 into the opening of the panel, centers it using the guide pins 34 and the polarizer 35, then attaches it to the panel. To do this, the operator first positions the box 30 opposite the opening of the panel and simultaneously presses with a finger on each of the two tabs 61, thus bringing the two attachment parts 6 closer together. the other.

Then the operator introduces the box 30 partly into the opening of the panel while maintaining the pressure on the two tongues 61. If necessary, the guide pin 34 and the polarizer 35 serve as guidance/centering, each cooperating with a side opening at the opening of the panel.

Once the box 30 is partly housed in the opening of the panel, with, if necessary, its protrusions 33 resting against the rear face of the panel, the operator releases the pressure on the two tabs 61.

The fixing hooks 60 then bear against the edge of the opening in a deployed fixing position, this position being determined according to the thickness of the panel P and the dimensions of the opening.

Thus, in this correct mounting position, the fixing hooks 60 somehow hook the panel.

Step 3/: the operator then grasps the plug-type connector 2 with its locking cap 4 in its unlocked position.

Step 4/: the operator then approaches the plug 2, with its contacts inserted and fixed in the insert 5 housed in the box 20 facing the base 3 so as to couple them mutually, at least partially, by their face before 24, 37 to make the connection ( figure 9A ).

Step e/ : once the mutual coupling, at least partially, has been achieved, the operator can then proceed to their mutual locking by sliding the locking cap 4 on the box 3 from its unlocked position ( figures 9B to 9D ) to its locked position ( figures 9E And 9F ).

Thus, the operator comes to exert, either with his finger, a lateral thrust force on the back 41 of the cover 4 from its extreme remote position, unlocking, or with a tool, a rotation, transformed by a mechanism in translation of the cover 4 from its extreme remote unlocking position. It may be a cam mechanism as described in the patent application EP3879639A1 .

When the cover 4 slides, the guide tabs 44 slide in the slideways 28, 36 respectively of the box 20 of the plug 2 and of the box 30 of the base 3.

The blocking of the cover 4 in its extreme close position, which is the locking position, is obtained by the wedging of each lug 32 of the housing 30 inside a slot 40 of the cover 4.

In this correct locking position, the guide tabs 46, 47 are inserted into the grooves 71, 81 respectively of the housing 20 of the plug 2.

The operator is assured that the cover 4 is indeed in the locking position and that this as well as the prior coupling between connectors 2, 3 are correct because on the one hand the pin 29 housed in the hole 45 protrudes at the -beyond the cover 4 and on the other hand, the color zone Z is completely invisible to the operator because it is hidden. In other words, the sensitive indicator and the visual indicator can be detected by the operator.

We represented in figure 10 And 10A an incorrect locking configuration between connectors 2, 3 described above, following an incorrect coupling between them.

In this configuration, at least one of the two wings of the cover 4, that referenced 42 in the example shown, is deflected and therefore is moved away from the longitudinal face 26 of the box 20 to the point that on the one hand at least one of the guide tabs 44 has come out of the slide 36 and on the other hand the pin 32 has come out of the opening 40 of the cover 4.

This deflection causes the guide tab 46 to abut B against the mechanical interference means formed by the edge 71 provided for this purpose.

Furthermore, pin 29 cannot project beyond cover 4 and therefore the sensory indicator that it forms cannot be detected by the operator.

Finally, the color zone Z remains visible for the operator.

Thus, the operator is informed by one and/or the other of the sensitive or visual indicator that the locking and therefore the coupling between the two connectors 2, 3 has not been correctly carried out.

There figure 11 illustrates a variant in which for each of the two wings 42, 43 the guide tab 47 is constituted by the very end of the wing 42, 43, possibly curved inwards. A rib 48 is arranged projecting and set back from the longitudinal end 47 for each wing 42, 43.

THE figures 12 and 12A illustrate an incorrect locking configuration between connectors 2, 3 with cover 4 depending on the variant of the figure 11 , as a result of incorrect mating between them.

Here again, the wing 42 of the cover 4 is deflected and therefore is moved away from the longitudinal face 26 of the box 20 to the point that on the one hand at least one of the guide tabs 44 has come out of the slide 36 and on the other hand the pin 32 has come out of the opening 40 of the cover 4.

This deflection causes the guide tongue 47 and/or the rib 48 to abut against the mechanical interference means formed by the edge 71 provided for this purpose. If necessary, the guide tab 47 can come out outside the edge 71.

Here too, pin 29 cannot project beyond cover 4 and color zone Z is visible to the operator. The sensitive and visual indicators therefore also indicate to the operator that the locking and therefore the coupling between the two connectors 2, 3 has not been correctly carried out.

Other variants and improvements may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, a single abutment 70/71 for detecting poor coupling can be provided as a mechanical interference means on one face of the housing 20. It can also be envisaged on the opposite face or on the two opposite faces.

The expression "comprising a" must be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless the contrary is specified.

Claims (13)

Connector (2), in particular multi-contact connector, comprising: - a housing (20) of longitudinal axis (X), comprising a front face, called the connection face, by which the connection by coupling along the longitudinal axis (X) to a complementary type connector (3) comprising a housing complementary (30), is made, and a rear face, - a cover (4) for locking the connector to the complementary connector, said cover being mounted on the housing and adapted to slide, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (X) of the housing, between an unlocking position and a locking position between box and complementary box, - at least one means for securing the coupling and the locking, the securing means(s) being adapted to mechanically block the sliding of the locking cover before it reaches its locking position, in the event of at least partial deformation of the cover caused by an incorrect coupling. Connector (2) according to claim 1, the means for securing the coupling and the locking consisting of a mechanical interference means (71, 81) between at least a deformed part of the cover and an element of the connector housing. Connector (2) according to claim 1 or 2, the locking cap (4) having, in the undeformed state, in section in a plane perpendicular to the axis X, a substantially U-shape, with a back (41 ) and two parallel wings (42, 43) connected to the back and each adapted to slide on one of the longitudinal faces of the case (20) from the locking position. Connector (2) according to Claim 3 in combination with Claim 2, the casing (20) having at least one relief (7, 8) whose lateral edge (71, 81) forms the means of mechanical interference with the end free of one of the two wings (42, 43) and/or of a tongue (46, 47) and/or rib (48) arranged at said free end. Connector (2) according to claim 4, the relief (7,8) comprising a guide groove (70, 80) in which the guide tongue (46, 47) arranged at the free end is adapted to be inserted in the correct locking position. Connector (2) according to one of claims 3 to 5, at least one of the two wings (42, 43) comprising one or more guide tabs (44) adapted to be inserted and sliding in a guide rail (28) formed on the housing (20) and/or in a guide rail (36) formed in the housing (30) of the complementary connector. Connector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, the housing (20) comprising a pin (29), the locking cover (4) comprising a through hole (45) in which the housing pin (20) is housed by protruding from the cover in its locking position by forming a sensitive locking indicator. Connector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one visual indicator (Z) arranged so as to be visible to an operator in any position, from the unlocking position of the cover to its lock in which it is hidden. Connector (2) according to claim 8, the visual indicator (Z) being an area of apparent color made on the cover (4). Connector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a mechanism for transforming rotational movement into sliding of the locking cover (4), the mechanism comprising an interface part with a tool (H), the part being mounted free to rotate in a housing of the housing and adapted to be rotated by the tool, along an angular stroke causing the locking cover to slide from its unlocked position to its locked position and vice versa. Electrical connection set, comprising: - a connector (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, of the plug/socket type, - an additional connector (3), of the base type. Method for assembling the connector (2) and the complementary connector (3) of the assembly according to claim 11, the method comprising the following steps: i/ make the connection by coupling, at least partially, of their front face (24, 37) between connector (2) and complementary connector (3), ii/ slide the locking cover (4) in translation from its unlocked position to its locked position, iii/ - if the sliding of the cover (4) according to step ii/ is blocked by the securing means then repeat steps i/ and ii/; - otherwise reach the locking position in which the cover (4) is locked relative to the housing (20) of the connector (2). Method according to claim 12, the connector being according to one of claims 7 and/or 8, further comprising, once the locking position according to step iii/ has been reached, the following step:
iv/ check locking by means of the sensitive and/or visible indicator.

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