EP0703645B1 - Ensemble de connexion ayant un élément codé de verrouillage secondaire - Google Patents

Ensemble de connexion ayant un élément codé de verrouillage secondaire Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0703645B1
EP0703645B1 EP19950113184 EP95113184A EP0703645B1 EP 0703645 B1 EP0703645 B1 EP 0703645B1 EP 19950113184 EP19950113184 EP 19950113184 EP 95113184 A EP95113184 A EP 95113184A EP 0703645 B1 EP0703645 B1 EP 0703645B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
coding
connector assembly
secondary locking
complementary
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19950113184
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0703645A1 (fr
Inventor
Jürgen Meyer
Hans-Joachim Zander
Dirk Dünkel
Franz-Josef Thiel
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker LLC
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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0703645A1 publication Critical patent/EP0703645A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0703645B1 publication Critical patent/EP0703645B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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
    • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • H01R13/645—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by exchangeable elements on case or base
    • H01R13/6453—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by exchangeable elements on case or base comprising pin-shaped elements, capable of being orientated in different angular positions around their own longitudinal axes, e.g. pins with hexagonal base
    • 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
    • H01R13/436—Securing a plurality of contact members by one locking piece or operation
    • H01R13/4367—Insertion of locking piece from the rear
    • H01R13/4368—Insertion of locking piece from the rear comprising a temporary and a final locking position

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a connector assembly having a secondary locking mechanism and a coding mechanism for ensuring coupling to the correct complementary assembly, wherein the coding member is incorporated on the secondary locking mechanism.
  • electrical connector assemblies comprising a first insulative housing for receiving electrical terminals therein, and further member comprising a movable secondary locking mechanism that can be activated from a pre-assembly to a fully assembled position to securely lock the terminals within the housing once they have been fully inserted thereinto.
  • coding means between mating connectors to ensure that the correct connectors are coupled together. It is however a continuous requirement to increase the cost-effectiveness, reliability and robustness of electrical connectors. It is also desirable to provide a large number of coding possibilities for certain applications.
  • many connectors must enable reliable sealing due to the harsh environments in which some are placed, for example in automotive applications.
  • a connector assembly as defined in claim 1.
  • a connector assembly comprising an insulative housing and a secondary locking mechanism mountable thereto in a pre-assembly position for receiving terminals in the housing, and movable to a fully assembled position such that the terminals are securely locked within the housing, the connector assembly further comprising coding means interengageable with coding means of a complementary connector assembly matable therewith, wherein the coding means is an integral extension of the secondary locking mechanism.
  • the extension may have a prismatic, coded shape insertable into a code member receiving cavity of the housing such that the complementary code means of the complementary code assembly is insertable into the remaining space in the code member receiving cavity adjacent the code member.
  • the secondary locking mechanism can be mounted from a terminal receiving face whereby the coding means is substantially centrally positioned such that a sealing surface around the mating face of the connector is unbroken. The latter thus enables easy and effective sealing of this connector whilst nevertheless providing secondary locking.
  • a connector assembly for receiving tab terminals therein comprises an insulative housing 4 and a secondary locking member 6.
  • the housing 4 comprises a terminal mounting section 8 having tab terminal receiving cavities 10 extending axially therethrough from a mating face 12 to a terminal receiving face 14.
  • a shroud 16 extends axially away from the terminal receiving face 14 and forms a cavity 18 therein for receiving the secondary locking member.
  • a further shroud 20 extends axially from the mating face 12 and forms a cavity 22 therein for receiving a complementary connector assembly that will be described further on.
  • the terminal receiving section 8 comprises a centrally positioned coding cavity 24 that extends axially between the terminal receiving and mating faces 14,12 respectively.
  • the secondary locking mechanism 6 comprises a body section 26 extending axially between a terminal entry in 28 and a terminal locking face 30, and a coding bar 32 that extends axially from the locking face 30 to a mating end 34.
  • the coding bar 32 is prismatic and may be comprised of more than one prismatic bar member, for example two as shown in Figures 18e-18h whereby the two coding bar members are denoted 32' and 32''.
  • the secondary locking member 6 is mountable to the housing 4 by insertion of the coding bar 32 into the housing coding cavity 24 and simultaneous insertion of the body section 26 into the cavity 18.
  • the windows 40 have a sufficient width W transverse to the axial direction, to allow transverse sliding of the protrusions 36 for the reasons described herebelow.
  • the secondary locking mechanism has a protrusion 46 that engages in a cutout 48 of the shroud 16 for providing further axial retention of the secondary locking member with respect to the housing, when in the fully assembled position.
  • a nob 52 for depressing the secondary locking mechanism in the direction D from the preassembled to the fully assembled position.
  • the secondary locking member and the housing have complementary recesses and protrusions 52,54,56,58 at their abutting faces 14 and 30 that inter-engage to ensure that the secondary locking member 6 is inserted correctly into the cavity 18. If it is not correctly inserted, for example at 180° rotation about the axial axis, then the raised portions 56 and 54 of the secondary locking member and housings 6,4 respectively will abut and prevent engagement of the latches 36 in the cutouts 40, thus ensuring that preassembly theretogether is not possible.
  • the coding bar 32 occupies some of the space within the coding cavity 24 of the housing 4, whereby the mating end 34 projects beyond the mating face 12 of the terminal receiving section 8.
  • a complementary connector assembly for mating to the connector assembly of Figures 1-6 comprising a housing 104 and a secondary locking mechanism 106.
  • the complementary connector assembly has many similar features and functions as the connector assembly of Figure 1-6 and these features will be denoted with the same number raised to 100. Similar features can be understood by making reference to the description of Figures 1-6.
  • the housing 104 has a terminal receiving section 108 having cavities 110 extending therethrough between a terminal receiving face 114 and a mating face 112, the cavities 110 for receiving receptacle terminals for mating with tab terminals of the connector assembly 4,6.
  • the outer periphery 60 of the terminal receiving section 108 is substantially the same prismatic shape as the cavity 20 of the shroud 22 and is receivable therein mating the connector assemblies 4,104.
  • the housing 104 similarly has a shroud 116 extending axially from the terminal receiving face 114, forming a cavity 118 for receiving the secondary locking member 106 therein.
  • the shroud 116 also has windows 140 for engagement with latch protrusions 136 of the secondary connector member, which is also slidable in the direction of arrow D from a preassembly to a fully assembled position.
  • the secondary locking member 106 also comprises one or more coding bars 132 that extends axially in a prismatic shape from the locking end face 130 to a mating end 134.
  • the mating end 134 of the coding bar 132 is however substantially flush with the mating face 112 of the housing 104 when assembled thereto.
  • the housing 104 also comprises an axially extending centrally positioned coding cavity 124 that is substantially aligned with the coding cavity 24 of the complementary connector housing 4 when the connector assemblies are coupled together.
  • the coding bar 132 thus occupies some of the space of the coding cavity 124 when assembled thereto in a manner complementary to the coding bar 32 within the coding cavity 24, such that when the complementary assembly 104,106 is inserted into the shroud cavity 22 of the connector assembly 4,6, then the coding bar 32 is inserted into the coding cavity 124 of the complementary connector assembly 124.
  • Full mating of the connector assemblies is complete when the mating faces 12,112 abut.
  • the coding bar 32 of the connector assembly 4,6 thus projects beyond the housing mating face 12 and into the coding cavity 124 of the complementary connector housing 104 alongside and interleaving with the coding bar 132 which is also disposed within the coding cavity 124 of the complementary connector housing.
  • the complementary prismatic profiles of the coding bars 32, 132 are made in such a way that if either of the secondary locking members 106 or 6 have not been moved into their fully assembled positions, the mating ends 134,34 of the coding bars abut each other and prevent coupling of the connector assemblies.
  • the coding bars thus also have the function of preventing coupling of the connector assemblies if the secondary locking members are not properly engaged.
  • Figures 18a-18h show various coding bar shapes of the male terminal connector assembly 4,6 that are complementary to the coding bar profiles of Figures 16a-16h respectively.
  • the connector housing 4 assembled with the secondary locking member 6 of Figures 18a will thus be matable (when fully assembled) to the complementary connector housing 104 assembled to the secondary locking member 106 of Figure 16a, however they would not be matable with the complementary housing was assembled to any of the other secondary locking members of Figures 16b-16h. Only the combinations of secondary locking members 6,106 from Figures 18 and 16 having the same letter (e.g. 18c is complementary to 16c) enables those connector assemblies to be mated together.
  • the housing 4 may comprise axially extending coding recesses 70,72 on the shroud 20, complementary and cooperable with coding protrusions 74,76 extending longitudinally along the outer periphery 60 of the terminal receiving section 108 of the complementary housing 104. Coding combinations are thus created by varying the position and number of the complementary recesses and protrusions (70,72,74,76). The number of the latter coding possibilities thus multiplies with the number of coding combinations of the complementary coding bars 32,132, thus providing a great number of coding combinations.
  • the housings 4,104 with matching coding can also be provided with various matching colours corresponding to the various matching coding combinations for easy distinction.
  • the coding bar of the male connector assembly 104,106 is well protected as it does not project beyond the mating face 112.
  • the connector assembly for receiving tab terminals 4,6 has a shroud 20 that protects not only the tabs terminals from damage, but also the coding bar 32 that projects beyond the mating face 12. Due to the positioning of the coding bars on the secondary locking members and integral therewith, they cannot be lost. They also provide the double function of ensuring correct coupling of connector assemblies, and preventing coupling if the secondary locking members are not fully assembled to the housings.
  • the secondary locking members can be injection moulded from plastics of different colours for each coding combination, whereby for example the complementary secondary locking members of Figures 18a and 16a would have the same colour, thereby assisting the visual detection of connector assemblies for coupling together.
  • the coding bars are on the secondary locking housings, they cannot get lost, and furthermore due to their prismatic shape extending from the main body of the secondary locking member they can be easily injected with small modifications to the moulding dies without a redesign of the whole die.
  • the number of coding combinations is greatly increased by providing further coding members on the housings (4,104). The latter can also be colour matched for easy visual detection.
  • the coding bar 32 is positioned within the area surrounded by the shroud 20, and is assembled to the connector housing from a terminal receiving end.
  • the latter allows the shroud 20 to remain unbroken around the periphery such that the inner surface of the shroud can be used as an effective sealing surface for sealing between the coupled connectors.
  • the cutout 48 could be removed, and the latch cutouts 40 replaced with protrusions, and a seal positioned over the terminal receiving face of the secondary locking member 6 for effective sealing of the connector, if this was required.
  • the coding members accomplish the function of ensuring full assembly of the secondary locking members and prevent coupling of connector assemblies if this is not the case.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Assemblage de connecteur comprenant un boítier isolant (4, 104) et un élément de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106), pouvant être monté fermement sur celui-ci dans une première position de pré-assemblage, en vue de l'insertion des bornes dans les cavités (10, 110) du boítier (4, 104), les cavités (10, 110) s'étendant axialement entre une face d'accouplement (12, 112) et une face de réception des bornes (14, 114) d'une section de bornes (8, 108) du boítier (4, 104), l'élément de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106) pouvant être déplacé vers une deuxième position d'assemblage complet, pour verrouiller les bornes dans les cavités du boítier (10, 110), caractérisé en ce que l'élément de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106) comprend une barre de codage (32, 132), s'étendant axialement d'une face d'extrémité de verrouillage correspondante (30, 130) vers une extrémité d'accouplement (34, 134), la barre de codage pouvant être insérée dans une cavité de réception de la barre de codage (24, 124) du boítier, s'étendant axialement à travers la section des bornes (8, 108), la barre de codage pouvant être imbriquée dans une barre de codage complémentaire d'un assemblage de connecteur complémentaire pour permettre l'accouplement d'assemblages de connecteur à codage spécifique concordant, uniquement lorsque le mécanisme de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106) est complètement assemblé au boítier (4, 104).
  2. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la barre de codage (32, 132) est prismatique.
  3. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le boítier (4, 104) comprend une enveloppe (16, 116), s'étendant axialement à l'écart de la face de réception des bornes (14, 114), pour former une cavité (18, 118) en vue de la réception de l'élément de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106) lors de l'assemblage correspondant.
  4. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la face d'extrémité de verrouillage (30, 130) de l'élément de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106) peut être montée contre la face de réception des bornes (14, 114) du boítier (4, 104), les faces (30, 130; 14, 114) comportant des saillies et des évidements à engagement réciproque complémentaire (54, 58; 52, 56), pour empêcher l'assemblage de l'élément de verrouillage secondaire (6, 106) sur le boítier (4, 104), sauf en cas d'orientation correcte par rapport à celui-ci.
  5. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la cavité de codage (24, 124) et agencée en un emplacement central dans la section des bornes (8, 108).
  6. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'extrémité d'accouplement (34) de la barre de codage (32) déborde au-delà de la face d'accouplement (12) de la section des bornes (8).
  7. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le boítier (4) comporte une enveloppe (20), s'étendant axialement à partir de la face d'accouplement (12) et formant une cavité (22), pour recevoir une section de bornes (108) d'un connecteur complémentaire.
  8. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que l'extrémité d'accouplement (134) de la barre de codage (132) ne déborde pratiquement pas au-delà de la face d'accouplement (112) de la section des bornes (108).
  9. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le boítier isolant (4) comprend des évidements de codage à extension axiale (70, 72), complémentaires de saillies de codage à extension axiale (74, 76) d'un boítier complémentaire (104) et pouvant être engagés dans celles-ci, en vue de fournir des combinaisons de codage additionnelles.
EP19950113184 1994-08-24 1995-08-22 Ensemble de connexion ayant un élément codé de verrouillage secondaire Expired - Lifetime EP0703645B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9417091A GB9417091D0 (en) 1994-08-24 1994-08-24 Connector assembly with coded secondary locking mechanism
GB9417091 1994-08-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0703645A1 EP0703645A1 (fr) 1996-03-27
EP0703645B1 true EP0703645B1 (fr) 1998-10-28

Family

ID=10760328

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19950113184 Expired - Lifetime EP0703645B1 (fr) 1994-08-24 1995-08-22 Ensemble de connexion ayant un élément codé de verrouillage secondaire

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0703645B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH08213106A (fr)
DE (1) DE69505622T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB9417091D0 (fr)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2695487B2 (ja) * 1989-09-29 1997-12-24 日本エー・エム・ピー株式会社 電気コネクタ
FR2692407A1 (fr) * 1992-06-10 1993-12-17 Souriau & Cie Dispositif de codage indexable hermaphrodite et connecteur l'utilisant.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69505622T2 (de) 1999-05-06
JPH08213106A (ja) 1996-08-20
DE69505622D1 (de) 1998-12-03
GB9417091D0 (en) 1994-10-12
EP0703645A1 (fr) 1996-03-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6261115B1 (en) Connector module
EP0726617B1 (fr) Connecteur avec verrouillage secondaire et mécanisme d'accouplement
US5281168A (en) Electrical connector with terminal position assurance system
US4832625A (en) Connector keying system
US4479691A (en) Connector assembly
EP0903814B1 (fr) Connecteur avec verrouillage
US5529512A (en) Connector with low insertion force
EP0977322A2 (fr) Module de connexion
KR960027064A (ko) 후방 단부에 단자 위치 확정 장치가 장착된 전기 커넥터
EP0954064B1 (fr) Paire de connecteurs mâle et femelle et jeu de connecteurs
US5160279A (en) Double lock connector
US5823814A (en) Connector module having connector positive assurance member and internally latching connector housings
US6004164A (en) Connector provided with a retainer
US5913697A (en) Electrical connector having a secondary lock
US5785559A (en) Connector assembly with coded secondary locking mechanism
US5879179A (en) Waterproof connector
JPH08321345A (ja) コネクタハウジング
EP0803936B1 (fr) Connecteur avec élément de fixation de la position des contacts
EP0703645B1 (fr) Ensemble de connexion ayant un élément codé de verrouillage secondaire
EP1006380B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique et/ou optique
WO1996013079A1 (fr) Ensemble connecteur etancheifiable pourvu d'un systeme de verrouillage secondaire
EP4588140A1 (fr) Ensemble connecteur électrique
EP1012916B1 (fr) Connecteur comportant un element maintenant la position de la borne
US6361380B1 (en) Electrical plug-in connection
EP0994530B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960311

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19971222

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69505622

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19981203

ET Fr: translation filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20020626

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20020805

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030822

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040430

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050822

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20140827

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69505622

Country of ref document: DE