JP3182407U - Seal tight electrical connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal tight electrical connector assembly that prevents fuel from entering an electrical terminal.
A connector assembly includes a female part 30 having two reception chambers 11 and two electrical contacts housed in the female part, and a male part 20 having a housing for housing connection ends of two electrical cables. And the connection end of each electric cable is arrange | positioned inside the insulation chamber of a housing | casing. The insulating chamber is encased in the reception chamber 11 of the female part by a seal tight method. The male part 20 comprises a metal pin, the metal pin having a body with a segment having a diameter larger than the opening of the insulating chamber, the segment containing the seal ring near the connection outlet opening of the housing. Therefore, it is disposed in an external recess along its body.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a seal tight electrical connector assembly against fuel ingress, and is particularly located within a fuel tank of a bi-fuel vehicle, preferably a motorcycle that uses a mixture of alcohol and gasoline in different proportions. Suitable for use with electrical contacts.

  With the development of the automotive industry, it has become increasingly common to have electrical devices in vehicle environments that are exposed to liquid or vapor fuel. At the same time, since alcohol is a renewable fuel, there is an increasing tendency to use alcohol alone as a fuel or to mix it with gasoline. However, because this fuel is highly corrosive, contact between alcohol and electrical devices can be harmful.

  Vehicles that run on alcohol and / or gasoline typically use fuel level sensors located inside the fuel tank that are responsible for supplying an electrical signal in response to the current fuel level in the vehicle tank. The generated signal is typically sent to a control panel or vehicle cluster. The power for this type of level sensor is supplied by a power cable that passes through a tank immersed in fuel or exposed to fuel in the form of steam, which power cable passes through an electrical connector and the electrical terminal of the sensor. It is connected to the. The signal generated by the sensor is sent to the panel or cluster by an electrical cable connected to the sensor exposed to the fuel in the tank.

  These level sensors, their respective power supplies and data transmission cables are in direct contact with the fuel, so if alcohol is expected to be used primarily as the main part of the bi-fuel blend, the sensor and cable The connection between them requires having some kind of sealing that prevents fuel from entering the electrical terminals of the sensor.

  The ingress of fuel inside the connector has the problem that the fuel contacts the power transmission and the data transmission cable of the sensor, thereby causing its chemical and / or electrical corrosion, resulting in intermittent electrical contact.

  Some models of electrical connectors are already known as the environment in which the fuel is present, reducing the corrosion of the electrical terminals with the goal of solving the problem of fuel penetration into the cable.

  Brazil patent No. PI 0603987-1, filed under the name of Robert Bosch, Brazil, is a fuel for avoiding electrolysis corrosion between two terminals caused by a potential difference between terminals in an alcohol-containing environment. The present invention relates to a level sensor for an electric connector for a pump and a bi-fuel type vehicle, preferably a four-wheel vehicle with two insulating chambers for the electrical terminals of the connector. The connector has an internal seal between the inner wall of the insulating chamber and the terminals, an external seal on the outer wall of the insulating chamber, and a female connection.

  The disadvantage of this connector is that it has an effective sealing only at the connection between the male and female parts of the connector. Furthermore, in this connector, the fuel penetrates the gap between the protective cover of the cable and the metal conductor, and the fuel passes through the gap to the terminal where the conductor is crimped to the metal contact pin, that is, in the cable. Capillary phenomenon cannot prevent fuel from entering. Thus, this fuel penetration occurs along the entire length of the cable that contacts the fuel in vapor or liquid form, as well as the engagement between the electrical contacts of the cable and the powered electrical device. . This connector technology does not provide a mechanism for preventing fuel that has already entered between the protective cover of the cable and the metal conductor from reaching the contact terminals of the cable.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,744 discloses an electrical connector for an aircraft fuel pump seal tight against fuel penetration. The connector is formed by a metal housing having an electrically insulating glass lid that connects one of its ends. The lid has a tubular insulating ceramic support. The connector pin passes through the opening of the lid and the tubular support and is connected to the electric cable. In this connection, the pin is also coated on the outside with a fluoropolymer and has an insulating extension made of an insulating material. This connector has a sealing structure that ensures insulation between several fairly complex connector terminals, and uses a material such as glass or insulating ceramic that has a lower resistance than the polymer material, and injects the terminals. A connector cannot be manufactured by molding. Furthermore, this document does not provide any information on preventing fuel penetration in the cable caused by capillary action.

  In Brazilian Patent No. PI0603637-6, over-injected into an electric fuel pump formed by a body injected with two separate electrical terminals connected to a spool and soldered to a wire harness. A seal tight connector is disclosed. The entire assembly is over-injected with plastic paint so that the electrical terminals are insulated inside separate circular chambers. This connector also cannot prevent fuel from entering the cable by capillary action.

  GB 2438551 discloses an electrical connector for use in a submersible pump, in particular an oil drilling environment. The connector is formed by a body having an insulating orifice for each terminal, and the terminal end of each terminal is connected to a guide pin. In addition, an elastomeric seal is attached along the PEEK (polyetheretherketone) insulating sleeve, thread spigot, and O-ring on the thread spigot to seal the pin. These rings act as a sealant that wraps the tail with the socket in the male-female type fitting. In addition, the connector itself has a seal ring on the outer periphery of its body to assist in sealing the connector.

  This connector is used between the wire harness and the portion to which it is connected, and is not used between the connection of the terminal and the housing. This document does not propose that the connector be directly over-injected into the connection between the cable and the pin. This connector structure requires the use of a pre-molded box with two openings for passing the cable and some additional components that seal the connection between the cable and the terminal. Some components are used in the correct size so that they can work together efficiently and provide a structure that is too complex to fail. Furthermore, according to this document, the cable is directly connected to the terminal, and there is no interface between them that assists in sealing against capillary action.

  Therefore, by exposing two terminals of different polarity to an alcohol solvent, it is prevented from being corroded by electrolysis, and the penetration of the fuel penetrating through the protective cover of the cable is prevented, both good It can be said that there is no technical literature designed to have electrical connectors with good sealing performance.

Brazil Patent No. PI0603987-1 US Pat. No. 6,837,744 Brazil patent No. PI0603637-6 British Patent No. 2,438,551

  A first object of the present invention is to provide a connector for an electrical contact immersed in fuel, for example, to reduce the chemical and / or electrical corrosion and eliminate contact interruptions. Some are used in fuel level sensors that prevent fuel from entering the terminals by both penetrating into the male-female fitting.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump or power cable connector that substitutes for insulation in a simpler and more economical manner, reducing the complexity of the electrical connection of the fuel level sensor.

The purpose of the idea is
At least two reception chambers and at least two electrical contacts housed within the female portion, each electrical contact being aligned with the respective reception chamber;
A housing for storing connection ends of at least two electrical cables, each electrical cable connection end being disposed in an insulating chamber of the housing having a connection outlet opening, and being housed in the female portion; A male part that can be wrapped in a seal tight manner in each reception chamber of the female part so as to isolate the electrical contact between the electrical contact and the electrical cable;
A seal tight electrical connector comprising:
The male part comprises at least two metal pins, each pin:
A body with at least one external recess housing a seal ring and at least one segment having a diameter larger than the opening of the insulating chamber, the segment being disposed near the connection outlet opening of the housing;
A protrusion on the body having a smaller diameter than the outlet opening, passing through the outlet opening, and connected to one of the connection ends of the electrical cable within one of the insulating chambers of the housing;
At least one seal ring provided to prevent movement of the pin in each recess of the body and forming a pressure contact inside a reception chamber of the female part. Achieved by the connector assembly.

  The connector assembly preferably comprises at least two electrical terminals, each terminal connected to a respective pin, and a sleeve attached to at least each electrical terminal of the pin connection.

  The connector assembly according to the present invention may comprise at least two seal rings each provided by an impediment to movement on the recess of the at least two pin bodies, the seal rings being made from an elastomeric material.

  The connecting ends of the electric cable and the pin may be bonded and plated, and the pin may be soldered to the electric terminal.

  The male insulation chambers preferably have clips on their outer surfaces that secure the respective reception chambers of the female part.

  The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the embodiment shown in the drawing. Show the diagram:

It is a perspective view of the male part of the seal tight electric connector assembly concerning this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a male part of a seal tight electrical connector assembly according to the present invention, showing all the components separated from each other. It is sectional drawing of a part of male part and female part of the seal tight electrical connector assembly which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the seal tight electric connector assembly concerning the present invention, and before connecting them, the male part and the female part are shown separately. It is a perspective view of the seal tight electric connector assembly concerning this invention, and shows what a male part and a female part were connected together.

  1-3 is a preferred embodiment of the male portion 20, also referred to as a wire harness, of the seal tight electrical connector assembly according to the present invention. This male part 20 is connected to the female part 30 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to form an electrical connector assembly that is free from corrosion of electrical contacts due to electrolysis, while at the same time sealing tight against fuel ingress by capillary action, and The fuel penetrating through the gap between the protective cover and the metal conductor of the electric cable is prevented from reaching the electric terminal of the connector.

  The electrical connector assembly is therefore particularly suitable for use in electrical devices with fuel sensors used in the automotive industry, for example, in environments in contact with liquid or vapor fuels. These connector assemblies are particularly useful for use in motorcycle electrical contacts because of their smaller dimensions.

  As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the female part 30 of the connector assembly comprises a configuration having at least two hollow reception chambers 11, each of which is provided individually and a male part 20 of the connector assembly. Configured to divide the fitting with each of the insulating chambers. Each of these reception chambers 11 serves as a guide for connecting each electrical contact (not shown) of the device housed in the configuration of the female part 30 and an electrical contact passing through the insulating chamber 3 of the male part 20. Fulfills the function. Since each electrical contact of this device is aligned with each reception chamber 11 of the female part, when the male part 20 is engaged with the female part 30, the connection end of the electrical cable 2 of the male part is stored in the female part. It is guided directly through the reception 11 so as to be connected to the electrical contacts. This electrical device is not shown but can be a fuel level gauge.

  In another inventive embodiment, female portion 20 may include more than one insulating chamber 11 if the connector is utilized in any type of device that uses more than one connection pin. Often they serve as a guide for connecting the electrical contacts and the respective contacts of the device housed in the framework.

  As seen in FIG. 1-3, connection ends of two electric cables are arranged inside the male portion 20, and for example, the two electric cables may be power cables. Each connection end of the cable is connected to an electrical pin 4. A casing made of a polymer material is overmolded on the connection end 2 of the cable at the connection portion with the electric pin. Accordingly, the insulation chamber 3 is formed around the connection portion of each cable connection end of each pin 4 by over-injection molding. Therefore, the connection end of each cable is disposed inside the insulation chamber 3 of the male portion. By preventing corrosion of heteropolar electrical terminals due to electrolysis, it is prevented from being exposed to an environment containing alcohol.

  These insulating chambers 3 have a connection outlet opening 14 at one end, and are joined at the opposite end at the center of the housing. The insulating chamber 3 has a shape suitable for connecting the outlet opening 14 to the reception chamber 11 side of the female part of the connector assembly, which is a liquid or vapor fuel permeation between the male part and the female part. A positive union that seals tightly from is formed. This connection between the female part and the male part serves as a guide for the power cable for isolating the electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the device housed inside the female part. The male insulating chambers 3 are provided with at least one, preferably two fixing clips 15, for example clips per leg, on their outer surfaces in order to fasten the respective reception chambers 11 of the female parts in these insulating chambers 3. Have. Thus, when the male part 20 is pressed against the female part 30, these clips automatically clamp the end of the female part reception chamber 11 and secure the connector assembly.

  The over-injection of the housing is performed after the cable connection end 2 and the pin 4 are already connected to each other in a mold having a preferred housing shape. The mold is then filled with a polymer material that takes the shape of the mold.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cable connection end 2 and the pin 4 are joined and plated. Therefore, contact between these components and the fuel does not cause deterioration of the electrical connection, and a failure in this connection can be avoided.

  The electrical pin 4 has a body 6 made of a metallic material and having at least one segment 8 with a diameter larger than the opening 14 of the insulating chamber 3. The pin also has a body projection 5 of a smaller diameter than the opening 14 of the insulating chamber. This protrusion 5 is one connection end of an electric cable inside one of the insulating chambers 3 of the male part 20 so that the entire length of the protrusion 5 of each pin is accommodated inside one of the insulating chambers 3. It is connected to the.

  Furthermore, in such a way, the pins are arranged in the male part, which is close to the opening 14 of the respective insulating chamber, or preferably in contact with the segment 8 of the pin 4 having a larger diameter than the opening 14 itself. The pins are made from an impervious metallic material, as opposed to a plastic that is a liquid permeable material. Thus, fuel that has exited from the opening 14 will flood into the pin side as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3 by making close or potential contact between the pin 8 and the housing opening 14. , It is directed to the space of the body of the reception chamber 11 and the pin 6.

  As more clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3, the body 6 of the pin 4 also has at least one external recess 7 that houses the seal ring. In a preferred embodiment of the device shown in these figures, the pin body 6 has two external recesses 7 each housing a seal ring. The seal ring 9 used in this connector is an O-ring made of an elastomeric material having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the recess 7 in the pin body, and is provided by an impediment to movement on these recesses, A seal tight that contacts the fuel between the pin recesses is provided.

  When the male part 20 is connected to the female part 30, the pin body 6 is housed inside the respective reception chambers 11 of the female part. Further, when the O-rings are provided in the respective recesses 7 of the main body, these rings 9 have an outer diameter that can contact the inside of each reception chamber 11 of the female part, and prevent the passage of fuel. Therefore, a sealing pressure is created for the reception chamber 11. Thus, the effect of the seal ring 9 between the electrical pin 4 and the reception chamber is to form a seal against the fuel permeating by capillary action, which flows around the pin 4 and reaches the inner region of this connector, This is to prevent the fuel from passing through the space existing between the reception chamber 11 and the pin 4 of the female part. The sealing performed by the ring 9 prevents fuel that has penetrated by capillary action from reaching the connection between the power cable and the contact terminals of the electrical device arranged inside the framework of the female part 30.

  In another inventive embodiment, the connector assembly comprises only one seal ring 9 attached to the recess 7 of the pin 4 or two or more seal rings each attached to the pin recess 7. Also good. The first seal ring 9 installed closer to the insulating chamber 3 of the male part 20 is the first sealing for the fuel. The other ring forms an auxiliary seal for any fuel that may pass through the first ring 9.

  Furthermore, the opposite end of the protrusion 5 of each pin 4 is preferably connected to the electrical terminal 10 usually by soldering. Moreover, the sleeve 12 is attached to each electric terminal 10 which spreads beyond the connection part with the pin 4 at least. This sleeve basically has the function of providing support and mechanical protection of the connection between the soldered terminal 10 and the pin 4. In the connector assembly according to the present invention, the sealing for the fuel entering by capillarity is performed by the seal ring 9 arranged on the pin 4 in the region between the male insulating chamber 3 and the female receiving chamber 11. As it is done, the risk of fuel reaching the electrical contact terminals is greatly reduced. Thus, the sleeve 12 is not required to provide additional sealing for the fuel on the terminals.

  Therefore, in the state in which the connector assembly is attached, that is, the male part 20 connected to the female part 30, the fuel is infiltrated by capillarity and has a surprising sealing performance, and at the same time, the electric power by electrolysis. Unaffected by terminal wear.

  The fitting between the male part 20 and the female part 30 associated with the seal ring 9 on the pin 4 arranged in the connection part is connected between these two parts 20 and 30 and inside the female part. Prevents fuel from penetrating the terminals of the stored electrical device. At the same time, the use of separate chambers 3, 11 to connect between the respective terminals of the connector usually occurs due to the presence of two terminals of different polarity, in a moderately high alcohol content fuel. Prevents these terminals from being corroded by electrolysis. In connection with this property, the sealing performance of this connector is superior to the already known technical level.

  By analyzing the arrow in FIG. 3 which shows the fuel penetrating between the protective cover and the electrical cable conductor, an improved understanding of the idea can be obtained. Usually, the electrical terminal is connected directly to the connection end of the cable, so this fuel comes towards the connection end 2 of the cable and immediately reaches the electrical terminal of the connector. The contact between the terminal and the fuel then causes corrosion and, as a result, failure of the electrical contacts.

  In the connector assembly of the present invention, the metal pin 4 is used as an additional connection interface between the electrical terminal 10 and the connection end 2 of the cable.

  As can be seen by the arrows shown in FIG. 3, the fuel that has infiltrated by capillary action is the connection end 2 of the cable, the projection 5 of the pin connected to the cable, the outlet opening of the insulation chamber 3 of the male part 20. Reach up to 14. However, when reaching the outlet opening 14, the fuel comes into contact with the segment 8 of the body of the pin 5, which has a larger diameter than the opening 14. Since the pin is made of a metal material that is not liquid permeable, it prevents fuel from passing through the body 6 of the pin 4. Thus, this fuel passing through the opening 14 is diverted by the pin segment 8 into the space between the reception chamber 11 and the body of the pin 6 at least until the fuel reaches the first seal ring 9. However, since the seal ring 9 creates a sealing pressure on both the inner surface of the female reception chamber 11 and the surface of the recess 7 of the pin 4, the fuel is at the terminal 10, and potentially also this connector. Prevents passage through parts connected to the assembly. Thus, the seal ring 9 is responsible for effectively sealing the connector assembly. In an embodiment of the invention, the two seal rings 9 are arranged on the pin 4 and the first ring located closer to the opening 14 of the male part 20 has the function of initially sealing the fuel, The second ring arranged directly below the first ring is an auxiliary ceiling of the first ring.

  In the example of the preferred embodiment described above, the scope of the present invention includes other potential variations, and is not limited only by the contents of the claims for utility model registration attached hereto. It should be understood that the equivalents considered are included.

Claims (8)

Said female part (30) having at least two reception chambers (11) and at least two electrical contacts housed inside the female part, each electrical contact being aligned with a respective reception chamber;
It has a housing (1) for storing connection ends (2) of at least two electric cables, and each electric cable connection end is arranged inside an insulating chamber (3) of the housing having a connection outlet opening (14). The insulating chamber (3) is sealed tightly in each reception chamber (11) of the female part so as to isolate the electrical contact between the electrical contact and the electrical cable housed in the female part. A male part (20) that can be wrapped in,
A seal tight electrical connector comprising:
The male part (20) comprises at least two metal pins, each pin:
With at least one external recess (7) containing a seal ring (9) and at least one segment (8) having a larger diameter than the opening of the insulating chamber, the segment (8) being the connection of the housing A body (6) disposed near the outlet opening (14);
One of the connection ends (2) of the electrical cable having a smaller diameter than the outlet opening (14), passing through the outlet opening (14) and inside one of the insulating chambers (3) of the housing. A projection (5) of the body connected to the
At least one seal ring (9) provided to prevent movement of the pin (4) in each recess (7) of the body and forming a pressure contact inside the reception chamber (11) of the female part A seal tight electrical connector assembly.   2. Connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two electrical terminals (10), each electrical terminal being connected to a respective pin (4).   3. The connector assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a sleeve (12) attached to each of the electrical terminals (10) at least at the connection with the pin (4).   4. At least two sealing rings (9) each provided to prevent movement in at least two recesses (7) of the body of the pin. The connector assembly according to item.   5. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connection end (2) and the pin (4) of the electrical cable are joined and plated.   4. Connector assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pin (4) is soldered to the electrical terminal (10).   7. The insulation chamber (3) of the male part (20) has a clip for fixing the respective reception chamber (11) of the female part (20) on its outer surface. A connector assembly according to claim 1.   8. Connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal ring (9) is made of an elastomeric material.