JPS6276176A - Electric connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising an interdigitated insulating housing and an electrically conductive terminal member. More particularly, the present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies of the type having two-piece housings and crimp-type terminals.

Although many improvements have been made in conventional electrical connector assemblies in general, further improvements are contemplated. For example, electrical connectors must exhibit high mating forces for a variety of reasons.

For example, in a contaminated environment, a strong mating force will displace contaminants such as oxide films to ensure positive electrical contact and create a gas-type seal at the electrical connection point. Furthermore, when an electrical connector is provided with a large number of circuits, it is naturally necessary to apply high insertion and withdrawal forces to engage and disengage the two engaging members of the connector. . Therefore, a configuration is required in which the terminal is held within the insulating housing.

Such a terminal retention feature is required to prevent the end f- from being pushed out while mating the electrical coil, lid pair, and to prevent the mating of one of the connectors while disassociating the electrical connector pair. This is required to prevent the terminal from being pulled out by either operator-applied force on the conductor connected to the mating part or by disengagement force. In some applications of connectors, for example in the automotive field, it is necessary to securely retain the terminals despite unforeseen circumstances or environmental conditions.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Although electrical terminals having printed conductor engaging portions are known, improvements to crimp-type connectors have been considered. Crimp-type terminals provide satisfactory engagement with the conductor only when the crimp force of the terminal on the conductor lies within a relatively narrow range. If the crimp portion that engages the conductor has insufficient crimp force, it will not be possible to obtain a low resistance electrical connection between the terminal and the conductor. It is also desirable to be able to easily visually determine that the height of the crimp portion is inappropriate.

Furthermore, in this connector configuration, the fitting portion of the terminal is disposed off-center from the axis of the terminal body.

Other terminals, such as blade or flag terminals, are asymmetrical in cross-sectional shape. In these configurations, the relative angular orientation of the connector to the insulating housing is important for successful operation of the connector. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to easily visually determine the angular direction of the terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly with an improved terminal retention mechanism.

The purpose is to provide an insulating housing having a mating end, an opposite open carrier-receiving end, a carrier-receiving cavity between the ends, and at least one locking window, and an electrical terminal capable of engaging a conductor of a conductor. an insulated carrier insertable into a carrier-receiving end of the housing, the terminal-receiving channel having an open terminal-receiving surface; a means for retaining a terminal in the channel during assembly of the connector; and a means for retaining the terminal in the channel during insertion; an insulating carrier having a locking tab received in the locking window to maintain engagement with the terminal, and the terminal being inserted into the housing when the carrier is inserted into the housing. In an electrical connector assembly substantially enclosed by a housing, the terminal includes an elongated body having a forward mating portion and a crimp portion, the crimp portion having a rear portion and a conductor engaging portion; The conductor engagement part is
intermediate and recessed relative to the rear and front mating portions; further, a conductor engaging portion may be shaped thereabout to electrically engage a conductor of the conductor;
The carrier includes a terminal engagement member projecting toward the recessed conductor engagement portion which, in conjunction with the front mating portion and the rear portion, positions the terminal within the carrier and This is accomplished in an electrical connector assembly characterized by longitudinally retaining terminals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy visual indication of excessive crimp height in crimp-type terminal conductor assembly.

This purpose is such that the conductor engagement portion has a predetermined cross-sectional height;
The carrier includes first and second opposing outer surfaces spaced apart to define a predetermined width of the carrier, and the spaced carrier receiving end is adapted to allow the carrier to pass therethrough. has a width substantially equal to the width of the carrier, the terminal receiving channel has a predetermined depth extending from the spaced surface, and the terminal engaging member has a predetermined height extending into the channel. It has a certain value.

This height, when combined with the cross-sectional height of the conductor engagement portion, presents a minimum combined height equal to the depth to allow insertion of a carrier into the open end of the housing, thereby If the cross-sectional height of the conductor engagement portion is excessively high during assembly of the connector, the excessive height may be caused by the terminal protruding beyond the carrier and hitting the housing, making it impossible to insert the carrier. This is accomplished in an assembly of the type described, which is easily visible.

Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate visual determination of the angular orientation of the terminal relative to the housing.

This purpose is to have a minimum height only when the cross section of the conductor engaging part is in a predetermined angular direction with respect to the terminal engaging part, and this height is equal to the height of the terminal engaging member. When assembled, exhibits a minimum combined height equal to the depth, such that when the terminals are in different angular orientations, the combined height increases and the terminals are attached to the housing during assembly of the connector. This is accomplished in an assembly of the type described above, in which the angular orientation of the terminal relative to the housing is made easily visible.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, a connector assembly according to the invention is shown with reference numeral 1.
Generally indicated by 0. This assembly 10 includes a terminal 1
4 is connected to an insulated conductor 16. According to the invention, terminal 14
has a crimp-type engagement portion, and the conductor 16 has a bare tip suitable for a crimp connection. These features are discussed in more detail below. The terminated conductor subassembly 12 is mounted in a two-piece housing assembly consisting of a carrier member 18 and a cover-like housing 20. Ru. While the connector assembly shown in FIG. 1 includes a single planar array of terminated conductors, the embodiment of FIG. 2 combines the array of FIG. 1 with a second planar array of conductors. They are placed back to back.

The carrier member 18' of FIG. 2 is conveniently integrally molded to include two planar arrays, but otherwise has the same features as the configuration of FIG.

Therefore, the carrier and housing member of FIG.
They are designated by the same reference numerals as in the figures, but geometrical differences are indicated by a prime (') symbol. That is, the housing shown in FIG.

It differs only in relative size from housing 20 of FIG. 1 and is designated by the numeral 20'.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the terminal 14 of the subassembly 12 includes a front mating portion 30, a rear strain relief portion 32, and an intermediate crimp-type conductor engagement portion 34. There is. As shown most clearly in FIG.
0 has a cross-sectional height equal to the sum of vertical directions HT and HP, and the conductor engaging portion 34 has a cross-sectional height equal to only HT. The rear strain relief portion 32 has a cross-sectional height substantially greater than the conductor engagement portion 34 .

Actually, the conductor engagement part 34 and the strain relief part 3
2 are simultaneously formed in a single die to form crimps of reproducible size and shape.

As is well known, the conductor engagement portion 34 is connected to the conductor 16.
is applied to the bare tip 16' of the bar, and is deformed inwardly and crimped against this bare part. As shown in FIG. 4, the conductor engagement portion 34, when terminated to the conductor 16, takes on an elongated cross-sectional shape to easily indicate the angular direction of the terminal.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the degree of inward deformation or crimping of the conductor engagement portion 34 relative to the conductor 16 is important for proper electrical connection between the terminal and the conductor. Typically, the conductor engagement section is constructed by placing the terminal 14 in an anvil-like die, inserting the bare tip 16' of the conductor 16, lowering the opposing crimp die to deform the conductor engagement section 34, and removing the conductor. 16
It is formed by crimping the engaging portion 34 so as to mechanically and electrically connect it to the conductor portion of the connector. One problem that affects the performance of the connector is that the crimp portion that engages the conductor is not sufficiently crimped by the corresponding die member. If the crimp portion that engages the conductor is not sufficiently crimped, the "crimp height" HT will be greater than the desired value. The connector assembly of the present invention makes such unreasonably large crimp heights readily visible.

Regarding the mutual engagement of the two insulating members 18,20, the terminated conductor assembly 12 is attached to the carrier part 18, which is then inserted into the cover-like housing 2o.

Housing 20 has a mating end 40, an opposite open carrier-receiving end 42, and a carrier-receiving cavity 44 extending therebetween. In a preferred embodiment,
Although the carrier receiving cavity Wi 444 has a constant cross-sectional dimension throughout the length of the housing 20, it need not be so configured in other embodiments of the present invention. However, the internal dimensions of the open housing end 42;
In particular, the Tll W H is important. housing 2
0 is provided with a pair of opposed locking windows 46 to maintain carrier 18 and housing 20 in engagement.

Carrier 18 includes a plurality of terminal receiving channels 50 having a width WC (FIG. 3) extending between opposing outer surfaces 52,54. The open side 58 of the channel 50 has a surface 52
It is open towards the side to allow the subassembly 12 to be loaded laterally. As can be seen from the drawings, the depth of the channel 50 is less than the gold mine WC of the carrier by an amount equal to the thickness of the channel bottom wall 60 opposite the open side 58.

As shown in FIG. 1, the terminated subassembly 12 is loaded laterally into the terminal receiving channel 50 and is temporarily held there by resilient finger portions 64 during assembly of the connector.

The carrier 18 is then attached to the open end 42 of the housing 20.
inserted into. An outwardly projecting locking portion 68 formed near the rear end of carrier 18 is received in locking window 46 to maintain insulating member 18.20 in engagement.

The width of carrier 18, designated WC in FIG. 1, is held exactly to the inside width WH of housing 20 to obtain a high precision interfit. If the terminals 14 protrude beyond the surface 52 of the carrier, they will impinge on the sidewalls 70 of the housing 20, preventing complete insertion of the carrier 18 into the housing.

As shown, the terminal engaging member 74 is connected to the channel 5.
0 by a predetermined cross-sectional height HP. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The height HP of the engagement member 74 is selected such that when added to the thickness of the bottom wall 60 and the height HT of the conductor engagement portion 34, the sum of these heights is equal to the width WC of the carrier 18. Therefore, if the crimp height HT of the conductor engagement portion 34 exceeds its specified value.

The entire inside of the installed terminal and carrier will exceed the WC, making it impossible to insert the carrier 18 into the housing 20. Accordingly, in one connector assembly of the present invention, the appropriate limp height is easily determined visually.

Referring to FIG. 4, the shape of the terminal engaging member 74 is effectively used to make the angular orientation of the terminal 14 with respect to the carrier 18 easily visible. As shown in FIG. 4, the cross section of the conductor engagement portion 34 is elongated to fit within the maximum crimp height HT allowed for complete insertion of the carrier into the housing 20. As is clear from FIG. 4, the conductor engaging portion 34 (and thus
If the installation angle of the fitting part 30) deviates, it will protrude from the carrier 52. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the conductor engagement portion 34 is placed in a unique angular orientation such that the crimp height HT is minimized.

As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal engaging portion 74 is proximal to the portion of the terminal that appears between portions 30, 32 of the terminal. Therefore, when the subassembly 12 shifts axially, it collides with the engagement member 74. Compared to other terminal retention structures used to date, such as locking protrusions punched from the terminal wall, the present arrangement provides a significant increase in retention force.

The holding force of the terminal is ensured in the direction of pushing out and pulling out the terminal, and the terminal is secured by the housing member 2 that fits closely.
0 holds the member 74 in engagement.

Effects From the above description, the present invention can provide an electrical connector assembly with an improved terminal holding mechanism. Furthermore, when the height of the crimp portion becomes excessive in the conductor assembly of the crimp-type terminal, this can be easily recognized visually. Further, the angular direction of the terminal with respect to the housing can be easily recognized by visual inspection.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The accompanying drawings show embodiments of the invention, and FIG.
A perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a carrier and conductor subassembly shown just prior to assembly of the connector; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the completed electrical connector assembly; and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the completed connector assembly of FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Connector assembly 12... Conductor subassembly with terminal connection 14... Terminal 16... Insulated conductor 18... Carrier member 2o... Cover-shaped housing 30... Front Fitting part 32... Rear strain relief part 34... Crimp type conductor engagement part 40... Fitting end 42... Carrier receiving end 44...
...Carrier receiving cavity 50...Terminal receiving channel

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) an insulating housing having a mating end, an opposite open carrier-receiving end, a carrier-receiving cavity therebetween, and at least one locking window; and an electrical terminal engageable with a conductor of a lead wire; an insulated carrier insertable into a carrier-receiving end of the housing, the terminal-receiving channel having an open terminal-receiving surface, a means for retaining the terminal in the channel during assembly of the connector, and an insulating carrier insertable into the carrier-receiving end of the housing; an insulating carrier having a locking tab received in the locking window to maintain engagement between the carrier and the housing when the carrier is inserted into the housing. In such an electrical connector assembly, the terminal includes an elongate body having a forward mating portion and a crimp portion, the crimp portion comprising:
It has a rear part and a conductor engagement part, the conductor engagement part is located intermediate between the rear part and the front fitting part and is recessed relative thereto, and the conductor engagement part is connected to the conductor of the conductor. The carrier can be shaped for electrical engagement thereabout, and the carrier includes a terminal engagement member projecting toward the recessed conductor engagement portion, which is connected to the front mating portion and the rear portion. and positioning the terminals in the carrier and longitudinally retaining the terminals in the carrier. (2) the conductor engagement portion has a predetermined cross-sectional height, and the carrier includes first and second opposing outer surfaces spaced apart to form a predetermined width of the carrier; the open carrier-receiving end has a width substantially equal to the width of the carrier to allow the carrier to pass therethrough, and the terminal-receiving channel extends to a predetermined depth from the open surface. and the terminal engaging member has a predetermined height extending into the channel, which height, when combined with the cross-sectional height of the conductor engaging portion, has a minimum combined height equal to the depth. height to allow insertion of a carrier into the open end of the housing, whereby the terminals can be inserted into the carrier if the cross-sectional height of the conductor engagement portion is excessively high during assembly of the connector. 2. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector assembly protrudes beyond said housing so that said excess height is readily visible by preventing insertion of said carrier. (3) The cross section of the conductor engaging portion has a minimum height only when it is in a predetermined angular direction with respect to the terminal engaging portion;
When this height is combined with the height of the terminal engaging member,
exhibiting a minimum combined height equal to the depth, such that when the terminals are in different angular orientations, the combined height increases and the terminals abut the housing during assembly of the connector; 3. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the angular orientation of the terminals relative to the housing is readily visually determined. 4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said open housing end and said carrier have complementary rectangular shapes to orient the carrier within said housing. (5) The open housing end and the carrier have complementary shaped interengaging polarizing means so that the carrier enters the housing in only one direction. An electrical connector assembly according to scope 4. 6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a resilient terminal engaging tab shaped at the distal end of said carrier when inserted into said housing.