EP4376229A1 - Gehäuseanordnung für einen steckverbinder, steckverbinder und steckverbinderanordnung - Google Patents

Gehäuseanordnung für einen steckverbinder, steckverbinder und steckverbinderanordnung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4376229A1
EP4376229A1 EP22209166.2A EP22209166A EP4376229A1 EP 4376229 A1 EP4376229 A1 EP 4376229A1 EP 22209166 A EP22209166 A EP 22209166A EP 4376229 A1 EP4376229 A1 EP 4376229A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
mating
housing
drive element
transmission
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP22209166.2A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mouad NASSI
Said HAMMI
Saad BOUGHABA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Te Connectivity Morocco Sarl
Original Assignee
Te Connectivity Morocco Sarl
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Te Connectivity Morocco Sarl filed Critical Te Connectivity Morocco Sarl
Priority to EP22209166.2A priority Critical patent/EP4376229A1/de
Publication of EP4376229A1 publication Critical patent/EP4376229A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62933—Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
    • H01R13/62944—Pivoting lever comprising gear teeth
    • 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
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62905—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances comprising a camming member
    • H01R13/62911—U-shaped sliding element
    • 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
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62933—Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
    • H01R13/62955—Pivoting lever comprising supplementary/additional locking means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a housing assembly for an electrical connector, such as a plug connector e.g., for automotive applications. Further, the present invention relates to an electrical connector with such a housing assembly. Moreover, the present invention relates to a connector assembly comprising such an electrical connector and a mating connector as well as to a set comprising such a connector assembly and a replacement connector.
  • the applicability of the inventive concept is neither limited to electrical connectors nor to the automotive sector.
  • the concept may also be used on other types of connectors (such as optical connectors) and may extend to other applications in the field of engineering.
  • spaced-apart technical units may have to be electrically connected via an electrical cable in a separable fashion, using electrical connectors.
  • electrical connectors When establishing such an electrical connection by intermating a pair of matching electrical connectors (i.e. connector and mating connector), certain internal resistance forces have to be overcome.
  • mating aid mechanisms can be provided on the electrical connectors. These mating aid mechanisms are usually operated by hand and help to reduce the required mating force that has to be applied by an operator in order to overcome said resistance forces. Alternatively or additionally, the mating aid mechanisms offset or change the input direction of the mating force with respect to the resistance forces.
  • these mating aid mechanisms often require a certain degree of freedom at least in one spatial direction in order to function.
  • these mating aid mechanisms may be difficult to operate. For example, if multiple electrical connections are established with multiple pairs of electrical connectors close to each other, the respective mating aid mechanisms might mutually interfere, rendering the handling of the electrical connectors cumbersome.
  • the object of the present invention is to improve the handling of electrical connectors.
  • a housing assembly for an electrical connector that is intermateable with a mating connector wherein the housing assembly comprises a connector housing and a mating aid mechanism for assisting a mating process between the electrical connector and the mating connector, wherein the mating aid mechanism comprises a drive element movably arranged on the connector housing, and at least one transmission element rotatably arranged on the connector housing and engaged with the drive element, wherein the drive element is configured to be manually operated, and wherein the at least one transmission element is configured to be brought into engagement with the mating connector.
  • the at least one transmission element can be driven by the drive element and is configured to be brought into engagement with the mating connector, instead of the drive element itself, as is usually the case with manually operated mating aid mechanisms.
  • the at least one transmission element can transfer the movement of the drive element onto the mating connector, when the at least one transmission element is driven by the drive element of the manually operated mating aid mechanism.
  • the at least one transmission element is able to bridge a certain distance between the drive element and the mating connector, while establishing the above-mentioned transfer of movement.
  • the drive element can be arranged on the connector housing further away from the mating connector and in a position with possibly better accessibility for the operator, compared to a comparative drive element directly engaging with the mating connector. All this can be achieved without having to increase the dimensions of the drive element itself. If anything, the drive element can be designed more compactly than the comparative drive element.
  • the movement direction of the drive element is reversed compared to the movement direction of the comparative drive element directly engaging with the mating connector. That is, the movement that the drive element has to perform during the mating process it opposite to the movement the comparative drive element would have to perform, given that the layout of the mating connector remains unchanged.
  • the at least one transmission element can function according to the principle of an idler.
  • the electrical connector is preferably intermateable with the mating connector along a mating direction.
  • the connector housing may comprise a mating face facing in the mating direction and designed complementarily to a counter-part mating face of the mating connector.
  • the at least one transmission element may be rotatable around a rotary axis, which is perpendicular to said mating direction.
  • the at least one transmission element may be a symmetric or asymmetric gear or gear wheel.
  • the at least one transmission element may be a pinion.
  • the at least one transmission element may also be a gear train composed of multiple gears, preferably an odd number of gears. The gear train is advantageous, since it can span over and bridge an even longer distance compared to a single gear.
  • the drive element may be or comprise a slider with a toothed rack.
  • the slider may be slidably held on the connector housing in a direction perpendicular or at least oblique to the mating direction.
  • the at least one transmission element is form-fittingly intermeshed or interlocked with the toothed rack of the slider, a movement of the slider can be transferred to the mating connector via the at least one transmission element. This is useful in case where only the slider of the housing assembly is accessible from one direction that is not parallel to the mating direction. Instead of pushing the electrical connector itself in the mating direction, the slider can be pushed resulting in a movement of the electrical connector in said very mating direction.
  • the drive element may be or comprise a lever with at least one lever arm.
  • the lever may be pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the mating direction. This allows the operator to make use of the leverage effect.
  • At least one lever gear segment may be formed on an end of the at least one lever arm.
  • the lever is pivotably held on the connector housing at said end.
  • said at least one lever gear segment may extend along an outer circumference of said end of the at least one lever arm and about the pivot axis.
  • the at least one transmission element may be form-fittingly intermeshed or interlocked with the drive element in order to prevent slipping and the like.
  • the at least one transmission element may comprise two transmission gear segments, wherein each transmission gear segment is configured to be brought into engagement with the lever gear segment or the mating connector. Further, the two transmission gear segments may extend along an outer circumference of the at least one transmission element on mutually opposite sides of the at least one transmission element with respect to the above-mentioned rotary axis. In particular, each transmission gear segment may extend about the rotary axis in an arcuate manner.
  • the two transmission gear segments may have the same radius as well as the same number and size of gear teeth. Further, the two transmission gear segments may seamlessly merge on the outer circumference of the at least one transmission element.
  • the two transmission gear segments may differ from each other in terms of radius, number of gear teeth and/or size of gear teeth. This results in an asymmetric gear and allows each transmission gear segment to be independently optimized for its engagement with the lever gear segment or the mating connector.
  • one of the two transmission gear segments and the lever gear segment may have the same radius and/or the same number of gear teeth, preferably the same number of gear teeth per circumferential length.
  • one of the two transmission gear segments and the lever gear segment may have different radii and/or different numbers of gear teeth. This applies, in particular, to the transmission gear segment configured to be brought into engagement with the lever gear segment. Thereby, an effect similar to a change speed gear box can be achieved with the mating aid mechanism.
  • the radius and/or number of gear teeth of the transmission gear segment configured to be brought into engagement with the lever gear segment may be larger or smaller than the lever gear segment.
  • the at least one transmission element can cause a gear reduction or overdrive, respectively.
  • a gear reduction would advantageously lower the required mating force.
  • the overdrive would increase the stroke or travel of the electrical connector, compared to a constellation with a transmission ration of one.
  • the transmission gear segments and/or the lever gear segment may have a webbing-like reinforcement structure extending at least between two adjacent gear teeth.
  • the reinforced structure makes this embodiment compatible with electrical connectors, which, due to high internal resistance forces, require a high mating force.
  • the connector housing may comprise at least one axle journal for rotatably holding the at least one transmission element.
  • the at least one transmission element may comprise an opening for at least partially receiving the at least one axle journal.
  • the at least one axle journal and the opening may comprise cylindrical sliding surfaces with matching diameters.
  • the at least one axle journal may be located on the at least one transmission element and the opening on the connector housing.
  • the at least one axle journal may comprise a distal end with a material bulge that protrudes from the cylindrical sliding surface of the at least one axle journal.
  • the at least one transmission element is pressed and forced over the material bulge onto the at least one axle journal. Once the at least one transmission element has passed the material bulge, it is rotatably held on the at least one axle journal.
  • the material bulge may be located on a cantilever beam that is part of the at least one axle journal and made of a material which is more flexible than the at least one transmission element.
  • the connector housing may comprise at least one further axle journal for pivotably holding the drive element, wherein the drive element comprises at least one further opening for at least partially receiving the at least one further axle journal.
  • the at least one axle journal and the at least one further axle journal are preferably arranged on the same side of the connector housing. That is, the at least one axle journal and the at least one further axle journal protrude from the same side of the connector housing in a direction perpendicular or at least oblique to the mating direction. Further, the at least one axle journal and the at least one further axle journal extend parallel, but not coaxially, and point with their distal ends into the same direction.
  • At least one guide channel may be formed on the connector housing for slidably holding the drive element, if the drive element is configured as a slider.
  • the at least one guide channel preferably extends perpendicularly or at least obliquely to the mating direction.
  • the drive element may be at least sectionally U-shaped and may at least partially encompass the connector housing. Thereby, increased stability during handling of the electrical connector can be achieved due to a more symmetrical distribution of mechanical loads.
  • the drive element configured as the lever may comprise two lever arms extending at least sectionally in parallel.
  • Each lever arm may comprise a lever gear segment at one of its end. At the respective other end away from the lever gear segment, the two lever arms may be joined so as to form a structural unit.
  • the lever may be an integral component or a multipart component.
  • the two lever arms may be configured to be separable from each other.
  • the lever may include a detachable connecting element via which the two lever arms are connectable to result in the above-mentioned U-shape of the lever.
  • Each end of the two lever arms with the lever gear segment may comprise a further opening.
  • the connector housing may comprise two further axle journals for holding the U-shaped lever pivotably.
  • Each of the two further axle journals may be at least sectionally received in one of the further openings of the lever arm ends.
  • the drive element configured as the slider may comprise two slider arms extending at least sectionally in parallel. Each slider arm may form a toothed rack of its own.
  • the mating aid mechanism may comprise two transmission elements, preferably on mutually opposite sides of the connector housing, wherein the drive element engages with each of the two transmission elements. Again, the resulting symmetrical load distribution advantageously reduces the strain of each transmission element.
  • a pair of coaxial axle journals may be provided on mutually opposite sides of the connector housing for rotatably holding the two transmission elements along the rotary axis.
  • the two transmission elements may be positioned on a separate axle element extending through the connector housing and protruding with both its axle ends at the mutually opposite sides of the connector housing.
  • the connector housing may comprise at least one latching element for securing the drive element in a pre-defined position, such as a start position and/or end position. This further improves the ease of use by clearly indicating the correct start position and/or end position of the drive element to the operator.
  • the at least one transmission element may also be a friction wheel, which is easier to manufacture than a gear. Consequently, a segment of a friction wheel may be formed on the end of the at least one lever arm.
  • the at least one transmission element may be an eccentric cam wheel. Accordingly, a segment of a cam mechanism complementary to the cam wheel may be formed on the end of the at least one lever arm instead.
  • the underlying object defined at the beginning can also be achieved by an electrical connector with a housing assembly according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one electrical contact element for contacting a mating contact of the mating connector is positioned in the connector housing.
  • a plurality of contact elements may optionally be arranged in the connector housing. Due to the functionality and advantages of the housing assembly, which have already been explained above, the electrical connector according to the present invention can be handled easily.
  • the object of the present invention defined at the beginning can further be achieved by a connector assembly comprising an electrical connector according to one of the preceding embodiments and a mating connector that is configured to be intermateable with the electrical connector, wherein the mating connector is provided with at least one driven element that is arranged to be engageable with the at least one transmission element of the mating aid mechanism.
  • the at least one driven element is a toothed rack extending in or obliquely to the mating direction and being in engagement with one of the transmission gear segments of the at least one transmission element.
  • the at least one driven element may be a segment of a friction beam or cam mechanism.
  • the connector assembly according to the present invention also benefits from the advantages of the housing assembly and, thanks to the interaction between the mating aid mechanism and the at least one driven element, the connector assembly can be readily used to establish an electrical connection with ease.
  • each transmission element of the mating aid mechanism is arranged between the drive element of the mating aid mechanism and the respective driven element of the mating connector.
  • each transmission element fulfills the function of an idler, as already described above.
  • a set comprising a connector assembly according to any one of the above embodiments and a replacement connector also achieves the object of the present invention.
  • the replacement connector is configured to be intermateable with the mating connector, in the place of the electrical connector.
  • the replacement connector is configured exchangeable with the electrical connector.
  • the replacement connector comprises a replacement housing and a replacement drive element movably arranged on the replacement housing, and wherein the replacement drive element is configured to be manually operated and to be brought directly into engagement with the mating connector, in particular, with the at least one driven element of the mating connector.
  • the replacement connector does not comprise any transmission element like the electrical connector.
  • the electrical connector and the replacement connector differ in the movement direction of their respective drive elements. That is, the movement directions are reversed with respect to each other. Consequently, the set according to the invention allows a selection of the desired movement direction of the drive element by deciding to use the electrical connector or the replacement connector, when establishing the electrical connection with the mating connector. Hence, it is possible to choose the connector, which better suits the environmental constrains surrounding the mating connector. The resulting electrical connection is therefore improved in terms of handling.
  • the replacement connector may be identical to the electrical connector. Hence, the selection between the electrical connector and the replacement connector has only a minimal impact on all other functional aspects of the resulting electrical connection.
  • a housing assembly 1 is explained with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 7 .
  • the structure of an electrical connector 2, a connector assembly 4 as well as a set 5 according to the present invention will be explained making reference to Figs. 3 to 6 .
  • Fig. 1 shows a slightly diagonal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the housing assembly 1 according to the present invention.
  • the housing assembly 1 may be used for the electrical connector 2 that is intermateable with a mating connector 6 along a mating direction 8 (cf. Fig. 3 ).
  • the housing assembly 1 comprises a connector housing 10.
  • the connector housing 10 may be an injection-molded plastic part and may comprise as such a mating face 18.
  • the mating face 18 may face in the mating direction 8 and may be designed complementarily to a counter-part mating face 20 of the mating connector 6 (cf. Fig. 3 ).
  • the housing assembly 1 further comprises a mating aid mechanism 12 for assisting a mating process between the electrical connector 2 and the mating connector 6.
  • the mating aid mechanism 12 comprises a drive element 14 movably arranged on the connector housing 10 and at least one transmission element 16 rotatably arranged on the connector housing 10. Both the drive element 14 and the at least one transmission element 16 may also be injection-molded plastic parts.
  • the drive element 14 is configured to be manually operated.
  • the drive element 14 is a lever 22 with at least one lever arm 24.
  • the lever 22 may be pivotable about a pivot axis 26 perpendicular to the mating direction 8.
  • the connector housing 10 may comprise at least one axle journal 28 and the drive element 14 may comprise at least one opening 30 for at least partially receiving the at least one axle journal 28.
  • the lever 22 is pivotably held on the connector housing 10 at an end 32 of the at least one lever arm 24.
  • the at least one opening 30 may be formed on said end 32.
  • at least one lever gear segment 34 may be formed on said end 32.
  • said at least one lever gear segment 34 may extend about the pivot axis 26 and along an outer circumference 36 of the end 32 of the at least one lever arm 24 (see Fig. 3 ).
  • the drive element 14 may also be a slider 38 with a toothed rack 40 (see Fig. 7 ).
  • the slider 38 may be slidably held on the connector housing 10 in a direction 42 perpendicular or at least oblique to the mating direction 8.
  • at least one guide channel 44 may be formed on the connector housing 10 for slidably holding the slider 38.
  • the at least one guide channel 44 preferably extends perpendicularly or at least obliquely to the mating direction 8.
  • the at least one axle journal 48 may comprise a distal end 54 with a material bulge 56 that protrudes from the cylindrical sliding surface 52 of the at least one axle journal 48 (see Fig. 1 ).
  • the at least one transmission element 16 is pressed and forced over the material bulge 56 onto the at least one axle journal 48.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 has passed the material bulge 56, it is rotatably held on the at least one axle journal 48.
  • the lever 22 may be prevented from slipping off the axle journal 28 in a similar manner by a material bulge 58 on the axle journal 28 (see Fig. 1 ).
  • the at least one transmission element 16 is engaged with the drive element 14.
  • the axle journals 28, 48 are preferably arranged on the same side 60 of the connector housing 10 (see Fig. 3 ). That is, the axle journals 28, 48 protrude from the same side 60 of the connector housing 10 in a direction perpendicular or at least oblique to the mating direction 8. Further, the axle journals 28, 48 extend parallelly, but not coaxially, and point with their distal ends 54 into the same direction.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 is form-fittingly intermeshed or interlocked with the lever gear segment 34 of the lever 22 (see Fig. 3 ) or the toothed rack 40 of the slider 38 (see Fig. 7 ), respectively. Further, the at least one transmission element 16 is configured to be brought into engagement with the mating connector 6.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 may comprise two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b, wherein each transmission gear segment 62a, 62b is configured to be brought into engagement either with the lever gear segment 34 of the lever 22, the toothed rack 40 of the slider 38 or the mating connector 6. Further, the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b may extend along an outer circumference 64 of the at least one transmission element 16. In particular, each transmission gear segment 62a, 62b may extend about the rotary axis 46 in an arcuate manner.
  • the transmission gear segments 62a, 62b and/or the lever gear segment 34 may have a webbing-like reinforcement structure 66.
  • Said reinforcement structure 66 may extend laterally along the outer circumferences 36, 64. Further, the reinforcement structure 66 may extend at least partially between two adjacent gear teeth 68a, 68b.
  • the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b may both have the same radius as is shown in Fig. 3 . But, the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b may differ from each other in terms of number of gear teeth and/or size of gear teeth. This allows each transmission gear segment 62a, 62b to be optimized for its engagement with the lever gear segment 34 of the lever 22, the toothed rack 40 of the slider 38 or the mating connector 6, respectively.
  • the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b may have the same number and size of gear teeth. Further, the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b may seamlessly merge on the outer circumference 64 of the at least one transmission element 16.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 may be a simple symmetrical gear or gear wheel (not shown).
  • the at least one transmission element 16 may be a pinion.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 may also be a gear train (not shown) composed of multiple gears, preferably an odd number of gears.
  • One or both of the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b and the lever gear segment 34 may have different radii. Thereby, an effect similar to a change speed gear box can be achieved.
  • the radius 70 of the transmission gear segment 62a configured to be brought into engagement with the lever gear segment 34 is smaller than the radius 72 of the lever gear segment 34.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 can cause a gear reduction and advantageously lower the required mating force.
  • one or both of the two transmission gear segments 62a, 62b and the lever gear segment 34 may have the same radius and/or the same number of gear teeth, preferably the same number of gear teeth per circumferential length. This applies, in particular, to the transmission gear segment 62a configured to be brought into engagement with the lever gear segment 34.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 is form-fittingly intermeshed or interlocked with the lever 22, a transmission ration of one can be achieved.
  • the radius 70 of the transmission gear segment 62a configured to be brought into engagement with the lever gear segment may be larger than the radius 72 of the lever gear segment 34. This would result in an overdrive, effectively increasing the stroke or travel of the electrical connector, compared to a constellation with a transmission ration of one.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 may also be a friction wheel (not shown). Consequently, a segment of a friction wheel (not shown) may be formed on the end of the at least one lever arm.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 may be an eccentric cam wheel (not shown). Accordingly, a segment of a cam mechanism (not shown) complementary to the cam wheel may be formed on the end of the at least one lever arm instead.
  • Fig. 3 shows the connector assembly 4 comprising the electrical connector 2 and the mating connector 6 that is configured to be intermateable with the electrical connector 2.
  • the electrical connector 2 comprises the housing assembly 1, wherein one or more electrical contact elements (not shown) for contacting one or more mating contacts (not shown) of the mating connector 6 are positioned in the connector housing 10.
  • the mating connector 6 is provided with at least one driven element 76 that is arranged to be engageable with the at least one transmission element 16 of the mating aid mechanism 12.
  • the at least one driven element 76 is a toothed rack 78 extending in the mating direction 8 and being in engagement with one of the transmission gear segments 62b of the at least one transmission element 16.
  • the at least one transmission element 16 of the mating aid mechanism 12 is arranged between the drive element 14 of the mating aid mechanism 12 and the respective driven element 76 of the mating connector 6.
  • Figs. 3 to 5 represent a sequence showing the interaction between the mating aid mechanism 12 and the at least one driven element 76, when establishing an electrical connection between the electrical connector 2 and the mating connector 6.
  • the electrical connector 2 is placed on the mating connector 6 with the mating face 18 lightly engaging the counter-part mating face 18, while the lever 22 is in a start position 80 (see Fig. 3 ).
  • the transmission gear segment 62b of the at least one transmission element 16 is brought into initial engagement with the toothed rack 78 of the mating connector 6 and the lever 22 is pivoted (see Fig. 4 ).
  • This pivoting movement of the lever 22 is transferred to the mating connector 6 via the at least one transmission element 16.
  • the electrical connector 2 is pulled towards the mating connector 6 until reaching a fully mated state, when the lever 22 arrives in an end position 82 (see Fig. 5 ).
  • the drive element 14 configured as the lever 22 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is at least sectionally U-shaped and at least partially encompass the connector housing 10.
  • the lever 22 may comprise two lever arms 24a, 24b extending at least sectionally in parallel (see Fig. 2 ).
  • Each lever arm 24a, 24b may comprise a lever gear segment 34 at one of its end 32.
  • the two lever arms 24a, 24b may be joined by a handle 86 so as to form a structural unit 88.
  • the lever 22 may be an integral component.
  • the lever 22 may alternatively be a multipart component.
  • the two lever arms may be configured to be separable from each other.
  • the lever may include a detachable connecting element via which the two lever arms are connectable to result in the above-mentioned U-shape.
  • Each end 32 of the two lever arms 24a, 24b with the lever gear segment 34 may comprise an opening 30.
  • the connector housing 10 may comprise, on mutually opposite sides 60a, 60b, two axle journals 28a, 28b for holding the U-shaped lever 22 povitably.
  • Each of the two axle journals 28a, 28b may be at least sectionally received in one of the openings 30 of the lever arm ends 32.
  • the drive element 14 configured as the slider 38 may also be at least sectionally U-shaped and at least partially encompass the connector housing 10.
  • the slider 38 may comprise two slider arms 92a, 92b extending at least sectionally in parallel.
  • Each slider arm 92a, 92b may form a toothed rack 40.
  • the mating aid mechanism 12 may comprise two transmission elements 16a, 16b, preferably on the mutually opposite sides 60a, 60b of the connector housing 10. As is shown in Fig. 1 , the U-shaped drive element 14 may engage with each of the two transmission elements 16a, 16b.
  • a pair of coaxial axle journals 48a, 48b may be provided on the mutually opposite sides 60a, 60b of the connector housing 10 for rotatably holding the two transmission elements 16a, 16b.
  • the two transmission elements 16a, 16b may be positioned on a separate axle element extending through the connector housing 10 and protruding with both its axle ends at the mutually opposite sides 60a, 60b of the connector housing 10.
  • the connector housing 10 may comprise latching elements 94a, 94b for securing the drive element 14 in pre-defined positions.
  • the latching element 94a is configured to secure the drive element 14 in the start position 80 (see Fig. 1 ).
  • the latching element 94b is configured to secure the drive element 14 in the end position 82 (see Fig. 2 ).
  • the set 5 comprises a connector assembly 4 according to any one of the above embodiments and a replacement connector 96.
  • the replacement connector 96 is configured to be intermateable with the mating connector 6, in the place of the electrical connector 2.
  • the replacement connector 96 is shown in the fully mated state with the mating connector 6.
  • the electrical connector 2 is omitted in Fig. 6 , but may be configured similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to 5 .
  • the replacement connector 96 comprises a replacement housing 98 and a replacement drive element 100 movably arranged on the replacement housing 98.
  • the replacement drive element 100 is configured to be manually operated and to be brought directly into engagement with the mating connector 6, in particular, with the at least one driven element 76 of the mating connector 6.
  • the replacement connector 96 does not comprise any transmission element 16 like the electrical connector 2.
  • the electrical connector 2 and the replacement connector 96 differ in the movement direction 102 of their respective drive elements 14, 100. That is, the movement directions 102 are reversed with respect to each other, as can be seen by juxtaposing Figs. 5 and 6 . Consequently, the set 5 allows a selection of the desired movement direction 102 of the drive element 14 by deciding to use the electrical connector 2 or the replacement connector 96, when establishing the electrical connection with the mating connector 6. Hence, it is possible to choose the connector, which better suits the environmental constrains surrounding the mating connector 6.

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EP22209166.2A 2022-11-23 2022-11-23 Gehäuseanordnung für einen steckverbinder, steckverbinder und steckverbinderanordnung Pending EP4376229A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22209166.2A EP4376229A1 (de) 2022-11-23 2022-11-23 Gehäuseanordnung für einen steckverbinder, steckverbinder und steckverbinderanordnung

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22209166.2A EP4376229A1 (de) 2022-11-23 2022-11-23 Gehäuseanordnung für einen steckverbinder, steckverbinder und steckverbinderanordnung

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EP4376229A1 true EP4376229A1 (de) 2024-05-29

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EP22209166.2A Pending EP4376229A1 (de) 2022-11-23 2022-11-23 Gehäuseanordnung für einen steckverbinder, steckverbinder und steckverbinderanordnung

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04121677U (ja) * 1991-04-17 1992-10-30 住友電装株式会社 コネクタ
DE9415639U1 (de) * 1993-10-01 1994-12-22 Siemens AG, 80333 München Elektrischer Steckverbinder
FR2803111A1 (fr) * 1999-12-23 2001-06-29 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Connecteur electrique
KR20120018414A (ko) * 2010-08-23 2012-03-05 한국단자공업 주식회사 레버타입 커넥터조립체
US20220077630A1 (en) * 2019-01-10 2022-03-10 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Connector with booster mechanism

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04121677U (ja) * 1991-04-17 1992-10-30 住友電装株式会社 コネクタ
DE9415639U1 (de) * 1993-10-01 1994-12-22 Siemens AG, 80333 München Elektrischer Steckverbinder
FR2803111A1 (fr) * 1999-12-23 2001-06-29 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Connecteur electrique
KR20120018414A (ko) * 2010-08-23 2012-03-05 한국단자공업 주식회사 레버타입 커넥터조립체
US20220077630A1 (en) * 2019-01-10 2022-03-10 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Connector with booster mechanism

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