EP0183587A1 - Element of a multicontact connector comprising means to immobilize an isolation block in the casing of such a connector element - Google Patents

Abstract

Multicontact electrical connector element, comprising a hollow housing comprising at least one cavity for receiving an insulating block, the or each of the blocks comprising a plurality of housings or through cells, provided for the installation of immobilized contacts in said cells, the connector element further comprises locking means capable of cooperating with locking means of a complementary connector element. Each insulating block (3) is immobilized in the corresponding cavity (2) of the housing (1) by two elastic clips (5) having a substantially U-shaped section whose core (13) has means for hooking on a small side wall of the housing cavity and elastic means (17, 18) for bearing on the short side wall opposite the insulating block (3), each of the legs (14) of the clip being arranged to be applied elastically, against one of the long side walls of the insulating block, each of the branches of the clip being further arranged so that its free end face (22) is applied elastically against a bearing surface (8) in notch of the corresponding long side wall of the housing cavity.

Description

The present invention relates to a multicontact electrical connector element of the type comprising a hollow box of substantially flat parallelepiped shape having internally at least one cavity for receiving an insulating block, of substantially parallelepid shape preferably with rounded corners, the or each blocks comprising a plurality of housings or through cells provided for the establishment of contacts formed by male and / or female pins immobilized in said cells, the connector element further comprising locking means able to cooperate with means for locking a complementary connector element.

To secure the insulating blocks in the corresponding cavities of the housing, a rear plate usually covering the rear face of the insulating block or blocks is used, said rear plate being fixed to the housing by fixing means such as engaging screws. from the back into the housing wall.

Such a solution increases the overall dimensions of the connector element, which is troublesome in applications where space is very limited and, on the other hand, complicates the assembly and disassembly operations of the connector element. when it is desired to remove the insulating blocks, in particular to intervene on contacts.

The applicant company has described in its French patent application 83 000 18 a .multicontacts connector provided with improved means for immobilizing the insulating blocks in the housing.

The present invention proposes to provide a connector element comprising a device for fixing the insulating blocks in the housing making it possible to achieve, in a faster and simpler manner than in its previous application, the installation of the insulating blocks in the housing and the removal of these insulating blocks, in particular for intervention on contacts.

The connector element according to the invention is essentially characterized by the fact that each insulating block is immobilized in the corresponding cavity of the housing by two elastic clips disposed opposite between the insulating block and the cavity of the housing at the end faces. longitudinally spaced from the cavity, each of said clips having a substantially U-shaped section, the core of which has hooking means on a wall on the short side of the housing cavity and elastic means of support on the wall of the small opposite side of the insulating block, each of the branches of said clip being arranged to apply elastically, over part of its height, against one of the long side walls of the insulating block, each of the branches of the clip being further arranged so that its free end face is applied resiliently against a bearing surface in offset from the wall of corresponding long side of the housing cavity.

In a particular embodiment, the hooking means provided on the core of the clip comprise a cut with closed outline, in particular of rectangular section for the engagement of the clip on a projection of corresponding section, produced in the short side wall of the housing cavity.

To provide support against the short side face of the insulating block, there is advantageously provided in the core of the clip, preferably in its central part, a tab projecting towards the inside of the clip, preferably obtained by cutting, the free end of said tab coming to bear against a recessed bearing surface of the short side wall of the insulating block.

The branches of the clip, to allow the elastic support against the long side walls of the insulating block, advantageously have in section, in their central part a profile curved towards the inside of the branch of the clip, the curved central zone extending by two straight end zones, bearing against the corresponding wall of the long side of the housing cavity.

To allow the elastic support of the free end edges of the branches of the clip against the corresponding bearing surfaces projecting from the walls of the long side of the cavity of the housing, there is provided in each of the branches at least one elongated slot extending over a part of the height of the branch. In a particular embodiment, there are provided on each of the branches two elongated slots, preferably of closed contour.

In a preferred embodiment, the free end edge of each branch of the clip has in its central part, a projecting bearing bearing against the corresponding bearing of the wall of the long side of the cavity of the housing.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective fragmentaire éclatée d'un élément de connecteur selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une vue en élévation frontale du clip utilisé dans l'élément de connecteur de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessus du clip de la figure 2.
• La figure 4 est une vue en élévation latérale partiellement en coupe du clip de la figure 2.
• La figure 5 est une coupe selon V-V de la figure 4.
• La figure 6 est une vue en bout d'un élément de connecteur selon l'invention.
• La figure 7 illustre un outil permettant le démontage d'un bloc isolant d'un élément de connecteur selon l'invention.

In order to better understand the invention, we will now describe by way of example, in no way limiting, an embodiment referring to the appended drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a connector element according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the clip used in the connector element of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a top view of the clip of Figure 2.
• FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side elevation view of the clip of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 5 is a section along VV of FIG. 4.
• Figure 6 is an end view of a connector element according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a tool allowing the disassembly of an insulating block from a connector element according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a multicontact electrical connector element comprising a housing 1 of substantially flattened parallelepiped shape with rounded corners which, as best seen in FIG. 6, has two cavities 2 in each of which is housed a block insulator 3, 3 '(Figure 6) each of the insulating blocks comprising in known manner a plurality of cells for the housing and the contact retainer passing through the connector element.

By way of example for a more detailed description of pin contacts capable of being placed in the cells of the insulating block, reference may be made to French patent N ° 76 07467 published under N ° 2 344 978.

The housing of the connector element made of an alloy of a light metal such as for example an aluminum alloy of the AS 13 type is provided at its ends with locking members 4 able to cooperate with locking members of a corresponding connector element, the locking mechanism being for example of the threaded rod and socket or locking nut type.

Each insulating block 3, 3 ′ is, as best seen in FIG. 6, immobilized in the corresponding cavity 2 of the housing by two immobilizing devices in the form of clips 5 which will be described more precisely in what follows.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the housing 1 of the connector element has, in each wall of the long side of the cavities 2, a recessed bearing surface 6 parallel to the end faces of the housing, the bearing surfaces 6 serving as an axial abutment for spans 7 which are offset from the long side walls of the insulating block.

In the long side walls of the cavity or cavities of the casing 1, it is further provided for recessed bearing surfaces 8, orthogonal to the bearing surfaces 6.

In each wall of the small side of the cavities of the housing, there are provided projecting tabs, for example of parallelepipedal section, 9.

In each small side wall of each insulating block (3 or 3 ′), there is a recess 10, providing an upper bearing surface 11, this bearing extending parallel to the front and rear end faces of the insulating block and of the housing.

Each wall of the small side of the insulating block further comprises at its upper part a recess of convex profile 12 intended to come opposite the projection 9 to ensure its centering in the housing.

We will now describe, with particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a device in the form of a clip 5 making it possible to immobilize an insulating block 3 in the corresponding recess of the housing, two such clips being used as illustrated in FIG. 6 to immobilize each insulating block.

The clip generally designated by 5, has a substantially U-shaped section, and is made for example of beryllium copper or of spring quality stainless steel.

The clip has a core 13 and two slightly divergent side wings 14 in the free state.

In the core 13, is carried out on the one hand a rectangular section cutout 15 for the engagement of the clip on the parallelepipedal projection 9, as seen in FIG. 1, and on the other hand, a cutout 16 making from the core of the clip a tab 17, projecting inward and upward from the core of the clip.

The end edge 18 of the lug 17 is intended to come into abutment against the recessed bearing surface 11 of the insulating block, then blocking the insulating block, preventing extraction of the latter down in FIG. 1.

Each of the branches 14 of the clip has, in section, a central portion curved inward 19 as best seen in FIG. 5. This curved portion 19 extends between straight end portions 20. Each of the branches 14 further comprises two elongated slots of closed contour 21 making it possible to impart a certain elasticity to the branches of the clip, substantially in their plane, allowing, as can be seen in FIG. 1, an elastic support of the free end faces 22 of the branches against the bearing surfaces 8 of the long side walls of the cavities of the housing.

These free end faces have, in the example illustrated, in their frontal region a projecting bearing surface 23 which bears against the bearing surfaces 8.

For mounting and immobilizing an insulating block in a housing, first of all, two clips 5 are placed in the or each of the cavities thereof, the position of the mounted clip being illustrated in the section figure 1.

The insulating block is then engaged by sliding, the latter engaging between the walls opposite the branches of the two clips put in place in the cavity until the ends 18 of the lugs 17 of the clip bear against the corresponding bearing surfaces 11 of the insulating block, this support, associated with the support produced between the insulating block and the housing along the bearing surfaces 6 and 7 and the elastic supports produced against the insulating block by the branches of the clip ensuring secure holding of the insulating block in the corresponding cavity.

To ensure the extraction of an insulating block, it is possible to use a tool as illustrated in FIG. 7 having a U-shaped section, the length L between the branches of which corresponds to the length of an insulating block, l tool which can be engaged on either side of the longitudinal ends of the block maintained in the cavity of the housing until these branches come to bear against the projecting lugs 17 and retract these lugs during their advance movement , which allows the extraction of the insulating block.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it can be made various variants and modifications without departing from its scope or of his mind.

Claims (8)

1 - Multicontact electrical connector element comprising a hollow box of substantially flattened parallelepiped shape having internally at least one cavity for receiving an insulating block, of substantially parallelepiped shape, preferably with rounded corners, the or each of the blocks comprising a plurality of housings or through cells, provided for the establishment of contacts constituted by male and or female pins, immobilized in said cells, the connector element further comprises locking means capable of cooperating with locking means of a additional connector element, characterized in that each insulating block (3, 3 ') is immobilized in the corresponding cavity (2) of the housing (1) by two elastic clips (5) arranged opposite between the insulating block and the cavity of the housing at the longitudinally spaced end faces of the cavity, each of said clips having a section substantially in U-shaped, the core (13) of which has hooking means (15) on a wall of the short side of the housing cavity and elastic means (17, 18) for bearing on the wall of the opposite side of the insulating block (3), each of the branches (14) of said clip being arranged to apply elastically over part of its height, against one of the long side walls of the insulating block, each of the branches of the clip being further arranged to that its free end face (22) is applied elastically against a bearing surface (8) which is offset from the corresponding long side wall of the housing cavity. 2 - connector element according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means provided on the core of the clip comprise a cutout (15) with closed outline, in particular of rectangular section, for the engagement of the clip on a projection (9) of corresponding section made in the wall of the small side of the cavity of the housing. 3 - connector element according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that to achieve the support against the side of the short side of the insulating block, it is provided in the core of the clip, preferably in its central part, a lug (17) projecting towards the inside of the clip, preferably obtained by cutting, the free end (18) of said lug coming to bear against a recess (11) of the short side wall of the insulating block. 4 - connector element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the branches of the clip (14), to allow elastic support against the long side walls of the insulating block, have in section, in their part central, a curved profile towards the inside of the clip branch, the central curved zone (19) extending by two straight end zones (20) bearing against the corresponding wall of the long side of the cavity of the housing. 5 - connector element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that to allow the elastic support of the free end edges (22) of the branches of the clip against the corresponding bearing surfaces projecting from the long side walls of the housing cavity, there is provided in each of the branches (14) at least one elongated slot (21) extending over part of the height of the branch. 6 - connector element according to claim 5 characterized in that there is provided in each of the branches two elongated slots (21) preferably of closed contour. 7 - connector element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end edge (22) of each branch of the clip has in its central part a bearing surface (23) projecting providing support against the corresponding surface (8) of the long side wall of the housing. 8 - Device for immobilizing an insulating block in the housing of an electrical connector element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one elastic clip (5) of section substantially in the form of ' U, whose core (13) has hooking means on a wall on the short side of the housing cavity and elastic support means (17, 18) on the short side wall facing the insulating block, each of the branches of said clip being arranged to apply elastically, over a part of its height against one of the long side walls of the insulating block, each of the branches (14) of the clip being further arranged so that its face free end (22) is applied resiliently against a bearing surface in offset from the corresponding long side wall of the housing cavity.

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