JP2012513082A - Electrical connector assembly and electrical connector to the assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

  The electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. The second electrical connector is inserted into the dielectric housing, the TPA member, and the outer position from the intermediate position to the locking position. A contact part is provided. The TPA member in the intermediate position prevents the first and second electrical connectors from being fully coupled and in the locked position prevents the electrical contact from moving to its locked position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly and an electrical connector for the assembly.

  Electrical connector assemblies have long been provided with first and second electrical connectors that complementarily couple to allow electrical connection between two appliances.

  In particular, some types of electrical connectors have multiple electrical paths. In such a case, it is common that the electrically energizing contact portions respectively connected to the cables are inserted into the corresponding receptacles of the electrically insulating housing. During insertion, each electrical contact portion deflects the locking lance of the housing and then springs back to the locked position when the electrical contact portion is fully inserted. In this position, the wire weave is locked to the receptacle.

  Recently, a “terminal position assurance device (TPA)” has been developed. Such a device. It can be detected that the locking lance is still in its position, i.e. the electrical contact is not fully inserted. Prior to insertion of the contact portion, the TPA member is normally in an intermediate position. The concept of the TPA member is that when all electrical devices are fully inserted, the device can be moved relative to the housing between an intermediate position and a fully locked position. In its fully locked position, the device does not interfere with the two electrical connector pairs of the assembly. However, in its intermediate position, the TPA member interferes with the movement of the two electrical connectors joining, thereby preventing the joining of the two electrical connectors. Further, when the electrical contact portion is only partially inserted, the TPA member is prevented from moving from its intermediate position to the locking position. Therefore, when the TPA member cannot be moved to the locking position, it can be detected that all the connection portions are not completely inserted. Furthermore, this prevents the two electrical connectors from being coupled, thereby ensuring that improper operation is not possible.

  An example of such an electrical connector assembly is known from US Pat.

US Pat. No. 6,827,609

  The TPA member may be in its locked position during handling of the connector before insertion of any contact. This is a problem because when the TPA member is locked (ie, closed), one or more parts of the connector may be damaged by subsequent insertion of the contacts.

  The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly according to claim 1.

  In such a connector assembly, the TPA member is in an intermediate position, preventing the first and second electrical connectors from being fully coupled, and in the locked position, the contact portion moves to the locked position. Stop that. A person or machine that inserts the contact portion into the receptacle can detect an incorrect position (locked or closed position) of the TPA member, thereby preventing an inappropriate operation.

  According to another embodiment, one or more features defined in the independent claims may be utilized.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, which is provided as a non-limiting illustration, and the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector for a connector assembly according to one embodiment. FIG. It is a perspective view of the opposite side of a TPA member. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 taken along line IIIa-IIIa of FIG. FIG. 3b is a view similar to FIG. 3a with the contact portion in its locked position. FIG. 3b is a view similar to FIG. 3b with the TPA member in its locked position. FIG. 3b is a view similar to FIG. 3a with the TPA member in its locked position. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 along line IVb-IVb of FIG. 1 with the TPA member in its locked position and the contact portion in the outer position.

  The same reference numbers in different figures indicate similar or similar elements.

  FIG. 3 a shows the electrical connector 3 of the electrical connector assembly 1 comprising a first electrical connector 2 and a second connector 3. The first and second electrical connectors comprise any suitable type of mechanism 32 that is adapted to couple along the coupling direction X and that is lightly complementary, the mechanism being in the first position at the appropriate coupling relative position. And the second connector is locked together.

  For example, the first electrical connector 2 includes a dielectric housing 34 that defines a plurality of receptacles 35, some or each of which is complementary to the second connector when the first and second contacts are mated. An energizing contact portion 36 for performing electrical communication by contact is received. For example, the electrical contact portion of the first connector is designed as a pin. The second connector 3 is shown in detail in FIG.

  The second connector includes a housing 4 made of an electrical insulating material. The main housing also includes a coupling locking mechanism 32 configured to cooperate with a complementary locking coupling mechanism of the first connector. The housing 4 defines a plurality of paths. In this embodiment, there are two paths or contact receptacles 5a, 5b configured to correspond to the receptacles of the first electrical housing. However, in other embodiments, more paths would be possible with both connectors.

  One electrical cable 9 related to the path 5b is shown in FIG. The connector also includes a cable associated with the contact receptacle 5a not shown for purposes of clarity. Such a cable 9 is, for example, pressed onto the electrical contact 7, which is a forward coupling part 8 suitable for coupling with the first connector pin, for example the electrical core (not shown) of the cable 9. It has an intermediate part 37 which is pressed and fixed on top and, optionally, a rear part 38 which is pressed and fixed on the insulation coating 10 of the cable 9, for example. In this embodiment, the electric cable and the contact portion are inserted into the housing 4, more specifically, into the corresponding path along the insertion direction Y parallel to the engagement direction X of the two connectors.

  The cable is inserted into the housing 4 through a grid 11 that can be mechanically locked onto the housing 4 by any suitable method such as, for example, a snap fit. In the illustrated embodiment, a resilient locking lance 12 cooperates with a housing receiving hole (not shown) to hold the grid 11 within the housing.

  The second electrical connector further includes a TPA member 13. This TPA member can be releasably locked to the housing 4 in two different positions (this is done in any suitable way, for example a snap fit), and in this embodiment It is movable relative to the housing between two positions along a direction Z parallel to the coupling direction X.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the TPA member 13 includes a locking lance 39 that engages a complementary abutting portion 40 of the housing. Other mechanisms are possible.

  For each contact receptacle in the housing 4, the TPA member 13 is provided with an abutment surface 23, the function of which will be described in more detail below. Further, an interference finger 28 extends between these two contact receptacles, and a contact surface 30 is provided on this finger, and in this embodiment, on the same surface of the TPA member 13 with respect to the position of the electrical contact portion. It is provided (upper side in FIG. 2) and faces in the direction opposite to the direction of the contact surface 23.

  In the intermediate position, the front surface of the TPA member 13 interferes with the first connector when moving along the direction X in which the first connector is coupled toward the second connector. The first and second connectors cannot be coupled. Figure 3a shows in detail a cross section through one receptacle or path 5b of the second electrical connector. FIG. 3 a shows the TPA member 13 at the intermediate position and the contact portion 7 at the outer position that is not held in the housing 4.

  The contact portion 7 has a box-shaped front coupling portion 8 having an upward surface 15 and a rear locking portion 16.

  Within the housing, the contact receptacle 5b is defined by a dielectric wall 17 that partially or wholly surrounds the contact 7 to be inserted. The wall 17 protrudes towards the contact part and in this position a lance 18 having an elastic plastic body 19 with a stop part 20 having an inclined surface 24 facing the contact part and an opposite vertical surface 25. Etc. are provided. The plastic body 19 can move elastically by bending about an axis perpendicular to the cross section of FIG. Further, the plastic body 19 includes an upward contact surface 22 on the side opposite to the side on which the plastic body 19 has the stop portion 20.

  The TPA member 13 comprises a parallel abutment surface 23, which is located at a predetermined distance along the axis Z at the position shown and does not oppose the surface 22 so that the plastic body 19 is It is bent upward along the arrow 21.

  As shown in FIG. 3 a, at a position called the outer position of the contact portion 7, the front end of the contact portion 7 is located upstream of the locking lance 18 along the contact insertion Y.

  Next, when the contact portion 7 is inserted along the insertion direction Y, the upward surface 15 of the contact portion presses the inclined surface 24 of the stop portion 20 so that the contact portion moves along the insertion direction. It is necessary to apply force F. The locking lance is bent from its locking position to an insertion position (not shown). Then, on the entire insertion of the contact part, as shown in FIG. 3 b, the contact part 7 reaches its locking position, and the locking lance 18 is locked in the housing 4 by the contact part 7. In any case the position will bend back to or toward the original position. The vertical surface 25 engages with the rear locking portion 16 of the contact portion to perform this locking.

  As shown in FIG. 3c, when the contact portions 7 are inserted into the housing, the TPA member 13 is moved from its intermediate position to the locking position (FIG. 3c) as described above. In this position, the abutment surface 23 of the TPA member 13 faces the surface 22 of the lance 18 in a close proximity, thereby restricting the bending movement of the lance 18 and thus the contact portion 7 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction Y. Undesirable removal is prevented. Also, as described above, at this position of the TPA member, the first and second electrical connectors can be fully coupled.

  Here, although not shown, when the electrical contact portion 7 where the locking lance 18 bends along the arrow 21 is in the intermediate position, the lance 18 is moved from the intermediate position to the locking position. It should be noted that it is preventing movement. For example, this is accomplished by the front interference mechanism 26 of the lance 18 that interferes with the complementary front mechanism 27 of the TPA member 13 in this operation. This ensures that the TPA member 13 can only move from its intermediate position to its locked position (and thereby fully engage the two connectors) only when the electrical connection is in its intermediate position.

  FIG. 4a shows a state in which the TPA member is unexpectedly placed in its locked position before the end of the insertion of the contact, for example even before starting. In this position, the contact portion 7 in the outer position (although the contact portion is considered to be considerably separated from the right) is shown, and the TPA member 13 is in the locking position.

  In this case, the TPA member 13 ensures that the contact cannot be completely inserted into the corresponding receptacle. This is because the force to insert the contact into its locked position is at least three times the force required to insert the contact into the receptacle in the normal operation described above with respect to FIGS. 3a and 3b, preferably at least It is considered to be implemented even when 10 times the force is applied. In this embodiment, the contact portion 7 and the TPA member 13 cooperate to prevent such insertion. In the present embodiment, this is achieved by providing the TPA member 13 with a finger 28 that is inserted into the corresponding cavity 29 of the housing at the locking position of the TPA member 13. The fingers are shown in FIG. 4b, which is a cross-sectional view parallel to that of FIG. 4a, but slightly shifted in a direction perpendicular to the cross-sectional direction of FIGS. The finger 28 includes a contact surface 30, and the cavity 29 includes a complementary contact surface 31 that faces the contact surface 30. Thus, any movement of the TPA member 13 relative to the housing 4 is perpendicular to the insertion direction (perpendicular to the direction of movement of the TPA member relative to the housing that coincides with the movement caused by the bending of the lance 18 about the arrow 21). Can be prevented. The acting force E generated when the insertion is attempted is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

  In this case, upon insertion of the contact portion 7 in the receptacle, the upper surface 15 of the contact portion tends to bend the upward lance 18 by the arrow 21 as described above, and the upper surface 22 of the lance is There is a tendency to cause upward (in the drawing) or partial upward movement of the TPA member relative to the housing. However, this upward movement is prevented by contact with the finger contact surface 30 on the corresponding contact surface 31 of the housing.

  When the first connector 2 is coupled to the second connector 3, the TPA member is sandwiched between the inner part of the second connector (where the contact portion is inserted) and the outer side of the second connector or the surrounding skirt. It is. Next, while the TPA member is right-turned to the TPA member itself with respect to the contact surface of the connector adjacent to the finger 28, the contact portion is predetermined by the lance 18 blocked by the finger 28 that contacts the contact surface of the housing. Maintained in position, and the TPA member is prevented from extending radially by the outer skirt of the second connector. If excessive force is required to insert the contact 7 into the receptacle, it is signaled by the operator or machine inserting the cable. The TPA member can then be returned to its intermediate position using an appropriate tool, for example, before normal operations such as those described with respect to FIGS. 3a-3C can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrical connector assembly 2 1st electrical connector 3 2nd electrical connector 4 Dielectric housing | casing 5a, 5b Receptacle 7 Electrical contact part 13 TPA member 16 Locking mechanism 17 Wall 18 Locking member 22 1st contact surface 23 2nd contact Surface 30 Third contact surface 31 Fourth contact surface

Claims (11)

A first electrical connector (2);
A second electrical connector (3);
An electrical connector assembly comprising:
The second electrical connector (3)
A dielectric housing (4) having a wall (17) defining a receptacle (5b) and a configured locking member (18) that can be positioned in the locking and insertion positions;
A TPA member (13) configured to move relative to the dielectric housing between an intermediate position and a locking position;
An electrical contact part (7) having a locking mechanism (16), such that the electrical contact part is inserted into the receptacle along the insertion direction (Y) and within the receptacle;
From an outer position where the electrical contact portion (7) does not mechanically affect the locking member. Through an intermediate position where the electrical contact portion (7) bends the locking member to the insertion position. The locking mechanism (16) is configured to be movable to a locking position that cooperates with the locking member of the casing in order to lock the electrical contact portion in the casing. Electrical contact (7)
With
The TPA member (13) is mechanically engaged with the first electrical connector at the intermediate position of the TPA member to prevent the first and second electrical connectors from being fully coupled, Further, the first and second electrical connectors are configured to be completely coupled at the locking position of the TPA member,
In the intermediate position of the electrical contact portion (7), the electrical contact portion prevents the TPA member (13) from moving the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position; Further, in the locking position of the electrical contact portion, the electrical contact portion enables movement of the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position,
In the locking position of the TPA member, the electrical contact portion (7), the housing (4), and the TPA member (13) are moved from the outer position toward the locking position. The electrical connector assembly is configured to prevent the electrical contact portion from moving from the locking position in cooperation with each other. The locking member (18) has a first contact surface (22), the TPA member (13) has a second contact surface (23), and the first and second contact surfaces are Facing each other at the locking position of the TPA member,
The TPA member has a third abutment surface (30), the housing has a fourth abutment surface (31), and the third and fourth abutment surfaces are located on the TPA member. 2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking member opposes each other at a locking position to prevent the locking member from moving from the locking position to the insertion position.   At the intermediate position of the TPA member, the third and fourth contact surfaces (30, 31) do not face each other, thereby allowing the locking member to move from the locking position to the insertion position. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2.   In the intermediate position of the TPA member, the first and second contact surfaces (22, 23) do not face each other, so that the locking member (18) is moved from the locking position to the insertion position. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electrical connector assembly allows movement. A first electrical connector (2);
A second electrical connector (3);
An electrical connector assembly comprising:
The second electrical connector (3)
A dielectric housing (4) having a wall (17) defining a receptacle (5b) and a locking member (18) configured to be positioned in a locking position and an insertion position, said locking member (18) is a dielectric housing (4) having a first contact surface (22);
A TPA member (13) configured to move relative to the dielectric housing between an intermediate position and a locking position, the TPA member (13) having a second abutment surface; The first and second contact surfaces are opposed to each other at the locking position of the TPA member, and the TPA member has a third contact surface;
An electrical contact part (7) having a locking mechanism (16), the electrical contact part being inserted into the receptacle along the insertion direction (Y) and within the receptacle:
From an outer position where the electrical contact portion (7) does not mechanically affect the locking member. Through an intermediate position where the connecting portion (7) bends the locking member to the insertion position. The locking mechanism (16) is configured to be movable to a locking position that cooperates with the locking member of the housing to lock the electrical contact portion in the housing. An electrical contact (7);
With
The housing has a fourth contact surface (31), and the third and fourth contact surfaces prevent the locking member (18) from moving from the locking position to the insertion position. For this reason, the TPA members are opposed to each other at the locking position,
Further, at the intermediate position of the TPA member, the third and fourth contact surfaces (30, 31) do not face each other, thereby enabling the operation of the locking member from the locking position to the insertion position. West,
Also, the first and second contact surfaces (22, 23) do not face each other, thereby enabling the locking member (18) to move from the locking position to the insertion position,
The TPA member (13) is mechanically engaged with the first electrical connector at the intermediate position of the TPA member to prevent the first and second electrical connectors from being fully coupled, Further, the first and second electrical connectors are configured to be completely coupled at the locking position of the TPA member,
In the intermediate position of the electrical contact portion (7), the electrical contact portion prevents the TPA member (13) from moving the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position; Further, in the locking position of the electrical contact portion, the electrical contact portion enables movement of the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position,
In the locking position of the TPA member, the electrical contact portion (7), the housing (4), and the TPA member (13) are moved from the outer position toward the locking position. The electrical connector assembly is configured to prevent the electrical contact portion from moving from the locking position in cooperation with each other. The first connector has a first coupling locking mechanism (33), and the second connector has a complementary second coupling locking mechanism (32);
When the TPA member is in its locked position, the first connector is movable relative to the second connector from a position before coupling to a position where it is completely coupled;
6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling and locking mechanisms cooperate to lock the first and second electrical connectors together. .   The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the second coupling locking mechanism (32) is on the housing. The dielectric housing (4) defines a plurality of receptacles (5a, 5b) and the wall (17) has a locking position and an insertion position for each of a plurality, preferably all of the receptacles. A locking member (18) configured for the first connector assembly for the plurality, preferably all of the receptacles,
An electrical connection (7) having a locking mechanism (16), said connection being inserted into a corresponding receptacle along the insertion direction, and in said receptacle:
-From the outer position where the electrical contact portion does not mechanically affect the locking member,
-Through an intermediate position where the connecting portion bends the locking member to the insertion position,
An electrical connection configured such that the locking mechanism is movable to a locking position in cooperation with the locking member of the housing in order to lock the electrical contact portion in the housing; Part (7),
In the intermediate position of at least one, preferably all of the electrical contact portions (7), the electrical contact portion causes the TPA member (13) to move from the intermediate position to the locking position relative to the housing. Preventing, at the locking position of the electrical contact portion, the electrical contact portion enables movement of the TPA member (13) from its intermediate position relative to the housing to the locking position;
In the locking position of the TPA member, the at least one, preferably all of the electrical contact portions (7), the housing (4), and the TPA member (13) are located in the electrical contact portion. 8. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the electric contact portion mechanically cooperates in movement from the outer position toward the locking position to prevent the electric contact portion from moving to the locking position. 9. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1. A first electrical connector (2);
A second electrical connector (3);
An electrical connector assembly comprising:
The second electrical connector (3)
A dielectric housing (4) defining a plurality of receptacles (5a, 5b), each dielectric housing having a locking member configured to have a locking position and an insertion position (4) )When,
A TPA member (13) configured to move relative to the dielectric housing between an intermediate position and a locking position;
An electrical contact part (7) having a locking mechanism (16), such that the electrical contact part (7) is inserted into the receptacle along the insertion direction (Y) in each receptacle; and Within the receptacle:
From an outer position where the electrical contact portion (7) does not mechanically affect the locking member. Through an intermediate position where the connecting portion (7) bends the locking member to the insertion position. The locking mechanism (16) is configured to be movable to a locking position that cooperates with the locking member of the housing to lock the electrical contact portion in the housing. An electrical contact (7);
With
The TPA member (13) is mechanically engaged with the first electrical connector at the intermediate position of the TPA member to prevent the first and second electrical connectors from being fully coupled, Further, the first and second electrical connectors are configured to be completely coupled at the locking position of the TPA member,
At the intermediate position of each of the electrical contact portions (7), the electrical contact portion prevents the TPA member (13) from moving the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position. In addition, in the locking positions of all the electrical contact portions, the electrical contact portions enable movement of the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position,
In the locking position of the TPA member, the electrical contact portion (7), the housing (4), and the TPA member (13) are respectively moved from the outside position to the locking position. The electrical connector assembly is configured to prevent the electrical contact portion from moving from the locking position in cooperation with each other.   A plurality of the receptacles are arranged in a network of columns and / or rows, and the third and fourth abutment surfaces (30, 31) are arranged in the plane of two adjacent receptacles (5a, 5b). 10. An electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 2-5, 8 or 9, characterized in that An electrical connector for an electrical connector assembly according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising:
A dielectric housing (4) having a wall defining a receptacle and a locking member configured to be located in a locking position and an insertion position;
A TPA member (13) configured to move relative to the dielectric housing between an intermediate position and a locking position;
An electrical contact (7) each receptacle configured to be received, the electrical contact having a locking mechanism, the electrical contact being in the receptacle along the insertion direction (Y); Inserted and in the receptacle:
From an outer position where the electrical contact portion does not mechanically affect the locking member.Through an intermediate position where the connection portion bends the locking member to the insertion position. Each receptacle movable to a locking position in cooperation with the locking member of the housing to lock the electrical contact in the housing;
With
The TPA member (13), in the intermediate position of the TPA member, cooperates mechanically with the electrical connector to prevent the electrical connector from fully coupling with another complementary electrical connector. And, in the locked position of the TPA member, the electrical connector is configured to be fully coupled with the complementary another connect;
In the intermediate position of the electrical contact portion (7), the electrical contact portion prevents the TPA member from moving the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position, and In the locking position of the electrical contact portion, the electrical contact portion enables movement of the TPA member relative to the housing from the intermediate position to the locking position,
In the locking position of the TPA member (13), the electrical contact portion (7), the housing (4), and the TPA member (13) are locked from the outer position of the electrical contact portion. An electrical connector configured to prevent movement of the electrical contact portion from the locking position in cooperation with movement toward a position.

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