EP1276175B1 - Hybrid connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The contact carrier module has a body with a contact locking mechanism, and a forward grid which protects the contact pins in one position and when retracted allows pin coupling. The contact carrier module has a block (15a) preventing grid movement when there is incorrect locking of contacts.

Description

The present invention relates to a hybrid electrical connector comprising a contact holder module having pin contacts.

Pins contact gate modules are known, intended to be coupled to female contact holder modules. The pin contact carrier module comprises a series of contact pins of small diameter, for example less than 1 mm, in particular less than or equal to about 0.64 mm.
Such pins are fragile and require protection prior to mating with female contacts of a female module.

It has already been proposed to provide the spindle contact module, in its front coupling part with the female contact carrier, with a movable front grille between an advanced position of protection of the pins and a retracted position allowing the coupling of the two modules. . Such a module further comprising a spring device acting on the grid is taught in the document EP0948089 .

Connector modules are also known, the locking of the contacts of which uses a flap device provided with contact locking fingers, these fingers being inserted into windows formed in the contacts or resting on a rear wall of the contacts.

The problem with such modules is that it happens that we try to couple a pin contact door module with a female contact door module then the locking of the contacts is not correct. Such coupling may lead to a bad connection. Furthermore, misalignment during mating can cause various problems, such as folding one or more pins, or even the partial or total destruction of one or more pins.

The object of the invention is in particular to remedy these problems.

• un corps adapté pour recevoir au moins des contacts broches;
• au moins un moyen de verrouillage des contacts broches, ce moyen étant mobile par rapport au corps entre une position de non verrouillage et une position de verrouillage correct ;
• une grille avant montée mobile par rapport au corps entre une position avancée de protection des contacts broches et une position reculée permettant l'accouplement du module avec un module complémentaire,

ledit module porte contacts comportant en outre un moyen de blocage s'opposant à un mouvement de la grille en cas de non verrouillage correct des contacts par le moyen de verrouillage.The contact holder module according to the invention comprises:

• a body adapted to receive at least pin contacts;
• at least one means for locking the pin contacts, this means being movable relative to the body between a non-locking position and a correct locking position;
• a front grille mounted movable relative to the body between an advanced position of protection of the pin contacts and a retracted position for coupling the module with a complementary module,

said contact holder module further comprising blocking means opposing a movement of the gate in case of correct non-locking of the contacts by the locking means.

• un doigt ou une tige solidaire du moyen de verrouillage ou de la grille mobile, et,
• une encoche formée dans la grille avant ou le moyen de verrouillage pour recevoir respectivement le doigt ou la tige solidaire du moyen de verrouillage ou le doigt ou la tige solidaire de la grille mobile, et
• une butée que présente la grille ou le moyen de verrouillage,

dans lequel l'encoche et la butée sont agencées de manière à permettre, en cas de verrouillage correct par le moyen de verrouillage, un mouvement de la grille grâce à l'engagement du doigt ou tige dans une encoche lors d'un mouvement de la grille, et de manière, en cas de verrouillage incorrect, à ce que le doigt ou tige bute sur la butée pour s'opposer à un mouvement de la grille. L'encoche peut avoir la forme d'une fenêtre, d'une fente, d'un renfoncement, etc.Advantageously, the blocking means opposing a movement of the front gate in the event of correct non-locking by the locking means comprises:

• a finger or a rod integral with the locking means or the movable grid, and
• a notch formed in the front gate or the locking means for respectively receiving the finger or the rod integral with the locking means or the finger or the rod integral with the movable gate, and
• a stop that presents the grid or the locking means,

in which the notch and the stop are arranged to allow, in the event of correct locking by the locking means, a movement of the grid by the engagement of the finger or rod in a notch during a movement of the grid, and so, in case of incorrect locking, that the finger or rod abuts on the stop to oppose a movement of the grid. The notch may be in the form of a window, a slot, a recess, etc.

According to a particular embodiment, the locking means is a movable locking flap, preferably pivotally mounted on the body or sliding relative to the body, or a locking comb.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the body has a front end, a rear end, and a chamber in which the grid moves, this chamber having a front opening facing towards the front end of the body and an adjacent rear portion of the pin contacts, this end being turned towards the rear end of the body, the gate being movable in said chamber between an adjacent front position of the opening of the body and an adjacent rear position cells receiving the contact bodies and passing the pin contacts. Preferably, the grid has one or more first fingers directed towards the rear end of the body. According to a detail of a particularly advantageous form, the grid furthermore has one or more second fingers directed towards the front end of the body or the opening of the chamber, the said second finger or fingers directed towards the front end being arranged to cooperating with a locking means of a complementary module, this locking means abutting against a member of the gate in case of correct non-locking by the locking means of said complementary module and prohibiting the coupling of the modules.

Advantageously, a return element or spring acts on the grid to exert a force tending to push the gate towards the front opening of the module.

According to an advantageous characteristic of an embodiment, the module comprises one or short-circuit means for short-circuiting one or more contacts, said short-circuit means being movable between a short-circuit position and a short-circuit position. no short circuit, the one or more short-circuit means being controlled by the module gate considered or by an element of a module inserted partially in the considered module.
Preferably, the contact short-circuit means (s) are controlled by the gate, the one or more short-circuit means being deactivated when one or more fingers of the gate are engaged in a receiving notch of the gate. locking means.

For example, the short-circuit means or means comprise contact blades, advantageously having a bent or folded end portion. In this case, advantageously, the contact blades acts as a return means or spring tending to push the gate to the front opening of the module.

The invention further relates to the use of one or more modules according to the invention for making coupling connectors between small diameter contact pins and female contacts.

Such connectors are used in particular in the automotive field

Features and details of embodiments of modules according to the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

• La figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble d'un module comportant deux volets pivotants ;
• La figure 2 est une vue partielle en perspective du module de la figure 1, montrant les volets en position ouverte ;
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective avec arrachement du module de la figure 1, avec les volets rabattus mais non en position verrouillée ;
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique montrant la position de la grille par rapport au volet supérieur du module dans la position de la figure 3 ;
• La figure 5 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3 si ce n'est que les volets sont en position verrouillée ;
• La figure 6 est une vue schématique montrant la position de la grille par rapport au volet supérieur du module de la figure 5 ;
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'un module femelle coopérant avec le module de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 8 est une vue en coupe montrant l'introduction du module femelle dans le module mâle de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 9 est une vue en coupe montrant le module femelle partiellement accouplé au module mâle de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 10 est une vue en coupe montrant le module femelle accouplé au module mâle de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 11 est une vue schématique d'un module similaire à celui représenté à la figure 1, si ce n'est qu'il comporte un peigne de verrouillage.

In these drawings,

• The figure 1 is an overview of a module with two pivoting flaps;
• The figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the module of the figure 1 , showing the shutters in the open position;
• The figure 3 is a broken perspective view of the module from the figure 1 , with the flaps folded but not in the locked position;
• The figure 4 is a schematic view showing the position of the grid with respect to the upper flap of the module in the position of the figure 3 ;
• The figure 5 is a view similar to that of the figure 3 except that the shutters are in the locked position;
• The figure 6 is a schematic view showing the position of the grid with respect to the upper flap of the module of the figure 5 ;
• The figure 7 is a perspective view of a female module cooperating with the module of the figure 1 ;
• The figure 8 is a sectional view showing the introduction of the female module into the male module of the figure 1 ;
• The figure 9 is a sectional view showing the female module partially coupled to the male module of the figure 1 ;
• The figure 10 is a sectional view showing the female module coupled to the male module of the figure 1 ;
• The figure 11 is a schematic view of a module similar to that shown in figure 1 except that it has a locking comb.

• un corps 1 comportant une série de logements ou alvéoles 2 recevant des contacts broches 3 comportant un corps 3B reçu dans un alvéole 2 et une terminaison de contact 3A complémentaire d'un contact femelle complémentaire 23, 51;
• un volet inférieur 4 et un volet supérieur 5 présentant une série d'ergots de verrouillage 26 pour assurer le maintien en place des contacts broches 3, les volets 4, 5 étant montés à pivotement par rapport au corps 1 ;
• une grille de protection 6 placée dans une chambre 7 du corps 1, cette grille étant mobile par rapport au corps 1 et présente une série de passages 8 pour les extrémités des broches 3A lors de l'accouplement du module avec un module porte contacts femelles complémentaire.

The module represented Figures 1, 2 , 4 and 9 has:

• a body 1 comprising a series of housings or cells 2 receiving pin contacts 3 comprising a body 3B received in a cell 2 and a contact termination 3A complementary to a complementary female contact 23, 51;
• a lower flap 4 and an upper flap 5 having a series of locking lugs 26 to ensure the holding in place of the pin contacts 3, the flaps 4, 5 being pivotally mounted relative to the body 1;
• a protective grid 6 placed in a chamber 7 of the body 1, this gate being movable relative to the body 1 and has a series of passages 8 for the ends of the pins 3A when coupling the module with a complementary female contact holder module .

The body 1 has a front end 1A and a rear end 1B, the chamber 7 being open on the side of the end 1A. This opening of the chamber being adapted to allow the engagement of a portion of a female contact holder module in the chamber.

Each flap 4, 5 comprises clipping means 9 cooperating with means of the body 1 to maintain the lock in the locked position. Each flap 4, 5 consists of two lugs 10, 11 between which a flat 12 carrying the lugs 26 extends. Each lug 10, 11 is profiled so as to form a channel 13 and a stop 14. The lug 10, 11 has a profile substantially in L.

The gate 6 bears on its face turned towards the bottom of the chamber or toward the end 1B of the four-finger body 15A, 15B ( figures 4 and 6 ), two being located along the left edge 16 of the grid, while the other two are located along the right edge 17 of the grid 6. The upper fingers 15A are intended to cooperate with the tabs 10, 11 of the upper flap 5, while the lower fingers 15B are intended to cooperate with the tabs 10, 11 of the lower flap 4.

If a flap or two flaps are not correctly locked 4, 5, (position shown in Figures 3 and 4 ), the fingers 15A of the grid 6 are supported on the stop 14 of the lugs 10, 11 or shutters not locked correctly. As a result, any movement of the gate towards the end 1B of the body is impossible, so that it is not possible to couple the module with a female contact module and so that the pins of the module are protected.
To the figure 4 , there is shown the upper flap 5 and the gate 6 spaced apart from each other. The broken line 18 shows the position of the finger 15A with respect to the tab 11. In fact the finger 15A is adjacent to the tab 11.

In case of correct locking of the flaps 4, 5 with respect to the body 1 (position shown in FIGS. Figures 5 and 6 ), the four fingers 15A, 15B of the gate 6 are located respectively opposite a channel 13 of a lug 10, 11 of a flap 4, 5. In this position, each finger 15A, 15B is adapted to be engaged in a channel 13 during a movement of the gate towards the end back of the body 1. When the fingers of the grid 6 are engaged in the channels 13 of the tabs 10, 11 flaps, the fingers 15A, 15B serve as means opposing the opening of the flaps 4, 5. In d ' other words, during the coupling of the module, the fingers 15A, 15B prevent any deliberate or accidental opening of the flaps 4, 5.

A female module 21 able to cooperate with the module of the figure 1 is shown schematically in the figure 7 . This female module for example also comprises two locking flaps 22 of female contacts 23.

The module of the figure 1 also has shorting blades 24 ( figures 8 , 9 and 10 ) forming a short circuit of contacts as long as the module is not coupled to the female module.

The movement of the blades 24 from a short-circuit position (see figure 8 ) to a non-short-circuit position ( figure 10 ) is operated thanks to fingers 27 carried by the grid 6. The figure 9 shows an intermediate state of the modules between them. These fingers 27 act on a curved portion 28 of the elastic blade 24 when the coupling of the modules is almost completed.

The elastic blades 24 act in the position of the figure 10 on the grid to push it towards the opening of the chamber 7. Thus, during the uncoupling of the module of the figure 1 compared to that of the figure 7 , the elastic blades 24 push on the grid so as to ensure good protection of the pins since the beginning of the module separation operation.

The movement of the gate 6 towards the bottom of the chamber (toward the end 1B of the module) is advantageously effected against the action of one or more springs 29. Such springs ensure the return of the grid 6 in a position allowing protection of the pins before coupling the module of the figure 1 .

The female module 21 ( figure 7 ) has pre-locking studs and notches 30 and one or more final locking studs and notches 31. The module also has a polarization key 32 intended to be engaged in a groove 33 of the chamber 7 of the body 1 ( figure 1 ). The female module also has two polarizing fingers 34 intended to be engaged in grooves 35 of the chamber 7 when the module of the module is connected. figure 1 with the module of the figure 7 . The polarization key 32 and the polarizing fingers 34 make it possible to prevent coupling of the modules in the opposite direction, but above all make it possible to ensure linear movement of the female module 21 with respect to the chamber 7.

To avoid being able to open the flaps 22 of the female module, the flaps 22 may be of a type similar to that shown for the module of the figure 1 , while the grid 6 has fingers (shown in broken lines at the figure 6 15a) are intended to be engaged respectively in a channel of a tab of a flap when the flaps 22 are in the locked position. These fingers 15bis thus provide a safety function since they prevent an accidental opening or not of a flap 22 when coupling the module 21 with the module of the figure 1 .

The figure 11 shows in perspective a module similar to that shown in the figure 1 , except that this module comprises a locking comb 40 intended to be inserted into a housing 41 of the module. This comb has notches 42 receiving rods 43 (shown in broken lines) integral with the grid 6. The grid 6 also comprises rods 44 facing forward and intended to work with another module.

The embodiments of the appended figures are given by way of example only. It is clear that many modifications are possible.

Thus, for example each module may include pins and female parts. In this case, each module advantageously comprises a protection grid.
The locking flap may be a non-pivoting flap, for example sliding.

Optionally, a separate locking system can be used to lock a shutter. In this case, advantageously, this locking system has a notch or window for receiving a finger of the movable gate, when the locking system is in the locked position.

Claims (13)

1. Contacts module comprising:

   - a body (1) designed to accept at least pin contacts;

   - at least one locking means (4, 5) for locking the said contacts, this locking means being able to move relative to the body (1) between a non-locking position and a position of correct locking of the contacts;

   - a front grating (6) mounted such that it can move relative to the body between a forward position in which it protects the pin contacts and a retracted position allowing the contacts module to be coupled to a complementary module,

   characterized in that the contacts module comprises an immobilizing means (14, 15A, 15B) that opposes a movement of the grating (6) if the contacts are not correctly locked by the locking means.
2. Module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the immobilizing means (14, 15A, 15B) keeps the front grating (6) in its forward position in which it protects the contacts if the contacts are not correctly locked by the locking means.
3. Module according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (1) has a front end (1A) and a rear end (1B) and in that any movement of the front grating (6) towards the rear end (1B) is impossible if the contacts have not been-correctly locked by the locking means.
4. Module according to Claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the immobilizing means that opposes any movement of the grating if the locking means have not locked correctly comprises:

   - a finger or a rod (15A, 15B) secured to the locking means or to the mobile front grating (6), and

   - a notch (13) formed in the front grating or in the locking means (4, 5) either to accept the finger or the rod secured to the locking means or to accept the finger or the rod (15A, 15B) secured to the mobile front grating (6), respectively, and

   - a stop (14) exhibited by the grating or the locking means (4, 5),

   in which module the notch (13) and the stop (14) are arranged in such a way that if the locking means was locked correctly, the grating is allowed to move by virtue of engagement of the finger or of the rod in a notch (13) during movement of the grating (6) and in such a way that if locking is incorrect, the finger or rod (15A, 15B) butts against the stop (14) to prevent any movement of the grating (6).
5. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means is a mobile locking flap (4, 5), advantageously pivot-mounted on the body (1) or mounted such that it can slide relative to the body, or is a locking comb (40).
6. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (1) has a front end (1A), a rear end (1B), and a chamber (7) in which the grating (6) moves, this chamber (7) having a front opening facing towards the front end (1A) of the body (1) and a rear part adjacent to the bodies (3B) of the pin contacts (3), this end facing towards the rear end (1B) of the body (1), the grating (6) being able to move in the said chamber (7) between a forward position in which it protects the pins adjacent to the opening of the body and a rear position adjacent to the cavities 2 that accept the bodies of the pin contacts and allow the terminations 3A of the pin contacts 3 to pass through.
7. Module according to Claim 6, characterized in that the grating (6) has one or more first fingers (15A, 15B) directed towards the rear end (1B) of the body (1).
8. Module according to Claim 7, characterized in that the grating (6) also has one or more second fingers (15bis) directed towards the front end (1A) of the body (1) or the opening of the chamber (7), the said second finger or fingers (15bis) directed towards the front end being designed to collaborate with a locking means belonging to a complementary module (21), this locking means coming into abutment against an element of the grating (6) if the locking means of the said complementary module is not correctly locking and preventing the modules from being coupled.
9. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a return element or spring (29) acts on the grating (6) to exert a force that tends to push the grating (6) towards the front opening (1A) of the module.
10. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more means (24) of short-circuiting one or more contacts, the said short-circuiting being able to move between a short-circuiting position and a non-short-circuiting position, the said short-circuiting means being controlled by the grating (6) of the module in question.
11. Module according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the said short-circuiting means (24) are deactivated when one or more fingers (15a, 15B) of the grating (6) is or are engaged in an accommodating notch (13) belonging to the locking means (4, 5).
12. Module according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the short-circuiting means (24) comprise contact blades advantageously having a bent or folded terminal part (28).
13. Module according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact blades (24) act as return means or spring tending to push the grating (6) towards the front opening (1A) of the module at least at the start of a disconnection operation.

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