EP0508196A2 - Connecteur électrique de puissance - Google Patents
Connecteur électrique de puissance Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0508196A2 EP0508196A2 EP92104949A EP92104949A EP0508196A2 EP 0508196 A2 EP0508196 A2 EP 0508196A2 EP 92104949 A EP92104949 A EP 92104949A EP 92104949 A EP92104949 A EP 92104949A EP 0508196 A2 EP0508196 A2 EP 0508196A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- clam
- terminal
- housing
- shell members
- shell
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
- H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
- H01R13/422—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means
Definitions
- This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a disconnectable electrical connector having one or more mateable terminals in a housing.
- Electrical power connectors in contrast to more miniaturized electronic connectors, include a rather substantial blade contact mateable with a female contact terminal mounted in an insulative housing containing one or more of the mateable female terminals.
- Such connectors are used in a wide variety of applications or environments, such as in the appliance, automotive, computer and like industries wherein an apparatus is coupled to a main power source.
- This invention is directed to solving these dilemmas and to providing an electrical power connector which is extremely simple to manufacture, which facilitates easy assembly of the terminals into the housing of the connector, which employs a minimum of parts, and which provides a very reliable and secure connector construction.
- An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved, reliable and cost-effective electrical connector of the character described.
- the connector includes a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear mating end.
- the forward mating end has at least one terminal receiving cavity.
- a terminal is received in the cavity for connection to a complementary terminal of an appropriate mating connector when coupled to the mating end of the housing.
- the terminal is terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing.
- the rear end of the housing is provided substantially entirely by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminal easily to be inserted into the cavity and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminal.
- the invention contemplates the provision of complementary interengaging retaining means between the terminal and at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminal in the cavity when the clam-shell members are in the closed condition.
- the complementary interengaging retaining means are provided between the terminal and both clam-shell members.
- the retaining means include shoulders on opposite sides of the terminal engageable with a shoulder on each of the clam-shell members.
- the invention also contemplates the provision of complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in the closed condition.
- the complementary interengaging latch means include a pair of interengaging latches between the clam-shell members, one pair of interengaging latches being at each opposite end of the housing.
- pairs of interengaging latches can be provided between the clam-shell members spanning the interior of the members when in their closed condition.
- the connector houses a plurality of terminals received in a plurality of cavities. The interengaging latches spanning the interior of the clam-shell members can be provided between the plurality of terminals.
- the clam-shell members are movably mounted on the forward end of the housing by hinge means.
- the entire housing is fabricated as a unitarily molded component, and the hinge means is provided by unitary living hinge portions of the housing.
- an electrical power connector generally designated 10
- the connector includes a one-piece, unitarily molded housing, generally designated 12, and one or more terminals, generally designated 14 for free assembly into housing 12.
- the connector illustrated in the drawings is designed for receiving and housing four terminals 14, but it should be understood that the connector can accommodate any reasonable number of terminals. Only one terminal is shown in Figure 1 in order to avoid cluttering the illustration.
- Each terminal 14 is a one-piece component stamped and formed of sheet metal material, including a crimping portion 16 for terminating the terminal to the conductor or conductors of a power cable 18.
- Terminal 14 is formed as a female terminal and includes two pairs of opposing contact arms 20 providing jaws within which a contact blade-type terminal of an appropriate mating connector (not shown) is inserted when the mating connector is coupled to connector 10.
- Each terminal 14 also is formed with a pair of rearwardly facing (i.e., opposite the direction of insertion) shoulders 22 on opposite sides of the terminal.
- unitarily molded housing 12 includes a forward mating end, generally designated 24, and a rear terminating end, generally designated 26. It can be seen that power cables 18 project outwardly of the rear terminating end.
- the housing also includes a pair of end locking arms 28 for releasably locking the connector to the appropriate mating connector (not shown).
- forward mating end 24 of housing 12 includes a plurality of silos 30 defining terminal receiving cavities 32.
- the cavities are open-ended, as at 34, for insertion thereinto of complementary blade terminals of the appropriate mating connector whereby the blade terminals can be inserted between the jaws defined by contact arms 20 of terminals 14.
- Each cavity 32 has a rear enlarged portion 36 defining shoulders 38 against which a pair of shoulders 40 (Fig. 1) of terminal 14 abut.
- Rear terminating end 26 of housing 12 is defined substantially entirely by a pair of clam-shell members 42a and 42b.
- the clam-shell members are movably mounted on forward end 24 of housing 12 for movement between an open condition (Figs. 1 and 2) to allow terminals 14 freely to be inserted into cavities 32, and a closed condition (Figs. 3 and 4) to securely encapsulate the inserted terminals.
- the clam-shell members are movably mounted on the forward end of the housing by living hinge portions 44 which are best seen in Figure 2.
- Figure 2 also best illustrates how clam-shell members 42a and 42b, when in their open condition, provide a totally unobstructed area or path for terminals 14 to be inserted into cavities 32, as indicated by arrow "A".
- arrow "A" In other words, contrary to prior art connectors of this type, there are no partitions, walls or other portions of the housing in or along the path of insertion of the terminals which might interfere with total freedom of assembly of the terminals.
- each clam-shell member 42a and 42b are moved toward each other in the direction of dotted arrows "B" (Fig. 2) to their closed condition encapsulating the inserted terminals.
- Figure 1 shows that each clam-shell member has semi-circular recesses 46 which embrace power cables 18.
- each clam-shell member 42a and 42b is provided with an inner surface or shoulder 48 for engaging one of the shoulders 22 on opposite sides of each terminal 14 when the clam-shell members are in closed condition as shown in Figure 4. Therefore, the terminals are securely seated within housing 12 by interengagement between shoulders 40 of the terminals with shoulders 38 within cavity 32, and by interengagement between shoulders 22 on the terminals and surfaces or shoulders 48 on the clam-shell members.
- the invention also contemplates the provision of complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in their closed condition.
- the latch means are provided at both opposite ends of the clam-shell members as well as spanning the interior of the clam-shell members between the terminals. More particularly, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3, clam-shell member 42b has a hook-shaped latch arm 52 molded integrally with each opposite end thereof. Clam-shell member 42a has a recessed ledge 54 at each opposite end thereof and behind which a hook portion 52a of the respective latch arm 52 snaps when the clam-shell members are in closed condition as shown in Figure 3.
- the complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members also include a plurality of pairs of hook-shaped latch arms 56 molded integrally with and projecting from the inside of clam-shell member 42a.
- the shapes of latch arms 56 are best seen in Figure 2, but Figure 1 shows that one pair of each latch arms is disposed between terminal receiving cavities 32 and terminals 14.
- Clam-shell member 42b has a plurality of pairs of latch apertures 58, the shapes of which are best seen in Figures 2 and 4.
- the apertures are located in clam-shell member 42b such that hook portions 56a of latch arms 56 snap into apertures 58 when the clam-shell members are in closed condition as seen in Figure 4.
- clam-shell member 42b is provided with a plurality of partition walls 60 which are best seen in Figures 1 and 2, for completely separating the terminals.
- the partition walls are provided immediately adjacent latch arms 56 between the inserted terminals.
- an extremely simple housing 12 i.e., unitarily molded in a single piece, is provided and which allows for totally unrestricted insertion of terminals 14 into cavities 32, as seen by the completely open area surrounding the terminals in Figure 2.
- the clam-shell members are in their closed condition, encapsulating the terminals, the clam-shell members are latchingly interengaged substantially along the entire length of the connector, providing an extremely sturdy and reliable construction. All of the features described above for accommodating the terminals and for securing the terminals within the housing are provided without a single extraneous component except for the one-piece unitarily molded housing.
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US68281991A | 1991-04-09 | 1991-04-09 | |
US682819 | 1991-04-09 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0508196A2 true EP0508196A2 (fr) | 1992-10-14 |
EP0508196A3 EP0508196A3 (en) | 1992-12-16 |
Family
ID=24741283
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19920104949 Withdrawn EP0508196A3 (en) | 1991-04-09 | 1992-03-21 | Electrical power connector |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0508196A3 (fr) |
JP (1) | JPH0821443B2 (fr) |
KR (1) | KR920020784A (fr) |
MY (1) | MY106565A (fr) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4420497A1 (de) * | 1994-06-13 | 1995-12-14 | Grote & Hartmann | Elektrisches Kontaktelement |
EP1315246A2 (fr) * | 2001-11-23 | 2003-05-28 | Hirschmann Austria GmbH | Connecteur |
CN102890031A (zh) * | 2012-10-12 | 2013-01-23 | 协和机电(无锡)有限公司 | 插头引线弯曲试验的导电夹具 |
EP3648259A3 (fr) * | 2018-10-29 | 2020-07-22 | TE Connectivity Corporation | Connecteur électrique avec verrous et projections d'assurance de position de terminal fourni sur un couvercle articulé |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6452546B2 (ja) | 2015-05-20 | 2019-01-16 | 日本航空電子工業株式会社 | コネクタ |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4017141A (en) * | 1973-05-23 | 1977-04-12 | Bury Allen J | Connectors with primary and secondary lock structure |
FR2445632A1 (fr) * | 1978-12-29 | 1980-07-25 | Labinal | Organe male de contact electrique et element de boitier destine a contenir un tel organe male |
GB2177855A (en) * | 1985-07-11 | 1987-01-28 | Shinagawa Shoko Co Ltd | Insulating cover for terminal |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5733584U (fr) * | 1980-08-04 | 1982-02-22 |
-
1992
- 1992-03-06 MY MYPI92000367A patent/MY106565A/en unknown
- 1992-03-21 EP EP19920104949 patent/EP0508196A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-04-06 JP JP4113100A patent/JPH0821443B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-04-08 KR KR1019920005830A patent/KR920020784A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4017141A (en) * | 1973-05-23 | 1977-04-12 | Bury Allen J | Connectors with primary and secondary lock structure |
FR2445632A1 (fr) * | 1978-12-29 | 1980-07-25 | Labinal | Organe male de contact electrique et element de boitier destine a contenir un tel organe male |
GB2177855A (en) * | 1985-07-11 | 1987-01-28 | Shinagawa Shoko Co Ltd | Insulating cover for terminal |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4420497A1 (de) * | 1994-06-13 | 1995-12-14 | Grote & Hartmann | Elektrisches Kontaktelement |
DE4420497C2 (de) * | 1994-06-13 | 1999-04-29 | Grote & Hartmann | Elektrisches Kontaktelement |
EP1315246A2 (fr) * | 2001-11-23 | 2003-05-28 | Hirschmann Austria GmbH | Connecteur |
EP1315246A3 (fr) * | 2001-11-23 | 2004-06-23 | Hirschmann Austria GmbH | Connecteur |
CN102890031A (zh) * | 2012-10-12 | 2013-01-23 | 协和机电(无锡)有限公司 | 插头引线弯曲试验的导电夹具 |
CN102890031B (zh) * | 2012-10-12 | 2015-02-04 | 协和机电(无锡)有限公司 | 插头引线弯曲试验的导电夹具 |
EP3648259A3 (fr) * | 2018-10-29 | 2020-07-22 | TE Connectivity Corporation | Connecteur électrique avec verrous et projections d'assurance de position de terminal fourni sur un couvercle articulé |
US10855024B2 (en) | 2018-10-29 | 2020-12-01 | Te Connectivity Corporation | Electrical connector with latches and terminal position assurance projections provided on hinged cover |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH0821443B2 (ja) | 1996-03-04 |
EP0508196A3 (en) | 1992-12-16 |
KR920020784A (ko) | 1992-11-21 |
MY106565A (en) | 1995-06-30 |
JPH05198330A (ja) | 1993-08-06 |
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Legal Events
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19930602 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19940126 |
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GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
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ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed |
Owner name: RITIRATO CON ISTANZA DEL: 06.09.96;DE DOMINICIS & |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19960622 |