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
  • H01R13/40—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
  • H01R13/4361—Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion
  • H01R13/4362—Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion comprising a temporary and a final locking position

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a position assurance (PA) member, in particular a terminal position assurance (TPA) member or a connector position assurance (CPA), which is securely held at a connector housing.
• PA position assurance
• TPA terminal position assurance
• CPA connector position assurance
• the present invention further relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising such a PA member.
• Electrical connectors and electrical connector assemblies are commonly used to connect various cables, such as for example telecommunication cables, common networking cables, signaling cables or in general any electrical wiring.
• electrical connectors are particularly used for joining electrical circuits, wherein a male ended plug of an electrical connector may be adapted to be connected to a respective female ended jack of a corresponding counter connector.
• TPA terminal position assurance
• An electrical connector typically comprises one or more electrical terminals connected to electrical wires.
• the terminal or contact is inserted into the connector housing from the back side of the connector housing and then the TPA member is moved to a locking position to fix the terminal within the connector housing. After the TPA is brought into its locking position, the electrical terminal is fixed within the housing of the electrical connector such that the electrical connector can be used.
• a corresponding connector may be mated from an end opposite to and end at which the terminal is inserted.
• a TPA member is further utilized to detect incomplete insertion of contact terminals into a connector housing. They also assist in assuring that the contact terminals are properly positioned in the respective housing. A TPA member may thereby be mounted movably to the connector housing and may secure the terminal within the connector housing when being fully inserted.
• CPA connector position assurance
• a CPA member is a feature or mechanism designed to ensure that a connector is properly and securely mated or fully engaged with the respective counter connector, preventing it from unintentional disconnection or loosening due to vibration, shock, or other external forces.
• CPA members can take various forms, but their primary purpose is to provide mechanical locking or latching of the female and male electrical connectors to maintain the connection's integrity.
• TPA members and CPA members have various different ways of locking with the connector housing.
• latching hooks are employed for securing the TPA members and CPA members to the connector housing.
• TPA and CPA members tend to unintentionally disconnect from the connector housing during transport prior to assembly or even after assembly.
• it poses difficulties to remove a position assurance member from the final-lock position to the pre-lock position and from the pre-lock position to an unmounted position.
• tools must used by users in order to remove a TPA/CPA member.
• this could lead to damages to the TPA/CPA member, which makes reusability of the TPA/CPA member during its lifetime more difficult.
• a position assurance member such as a terminal position assurance (TPA) member or a connector position assurance (CPA) member, for an electrical connector assembly, wherein the position assurance member is adapted to be mounted to a connector housing of the electrical connector assembly and being movable relative to the connector housing between a pre-lock position and a final-lock position along a position assurance movement direction
• the position assurance member comprising at least one primary locking arm extending from a base member, wherein the primary locking arm comprises a primary latching hook for providing a resistive force against movement from the final-lock position to the pre-lock position and from the pre-lock position to the final-lock position; and a secondary locking arm integrated into the primary locking arm, wherein the secondary locking arm comprise a secondary latching hook for providing a resistive force against movement from the pre-lock position to an unmounted position; wherein the primary latching hook and the secondary latching hook point in opposite directions.
• TPA terminal position assurance
• CPA connector position assurance
• the primary latching hook and the secondary latching hook point ensure that the position assurance member is securely held at the connector housing in both operating positions. This is because bending the primary locking arm such that the primary latching hook releases from the connector housing enhances the locking force on the secondary locking arm and the secondary latching hook.
• the primary locking arm which also bends the attachment point of the secondary locking arm at the primary locking arm.
• This movement and/or bending of the secondary locking arm increases the pressure onto the secondary latching hook.
• the resistive force against movement from the pre-lock position to an unmounted position provided by the secondary latching hook increases. This improves the resistance of the position assurance member against complete removal from the connector housing. Therefore, the position assurance member is not lost during removal of a terminal or transport of the electrical connector assembly prior to terminal assembly.
• the primary latching hook points to the inside of the position assurance member and the secondary latching hook points to the outside of the position assurance member.
• the primary latching arm has to be bent to the outside of the position assurance member and for a de-latching of the secondary latching hook of the secondary latching arm of the same primary latching arm the secondary latching arm has to bend to the inside of the position assurance member.
• the primary locking arm comprises a primary elastic lever that extends from the base member in position assurance movement direction.
• the primary locking arm can be bent during assembly and disassembly such that the primary latching hook is pressed to its latching position.
• the primary latching hook is arranged at a leading end of the primary elastic lever.
• the primary latching hook is elastically supported by the primary elastic lever with the maximum elasticity.
• the primary locking arm comprises a generally flat shape and the secondary locking arm is arranged within a window of the primary locking arm.
• the window ensures that the secondary locking arm can additionally be elastically bent and/or elastically moved independently from the primary locking arm.
• the secondary locking arm comprises a secondary elastic lever that extends from the primary locking arm against position assurance movement direction.
• the secondary elastic lever provides independent elasticity to the secondary locking arm. This elasticity ensures that, when the position assurance member in the pre-assembled position is pulled out from the connector housing the secondary latching hook is pushed against an edge of the connector housing with a higher force.
• the secondary elastic lever points against the position assurance movement direction, the latching force increases, when the position assurance member experiences a pulling force out of the connector housing.
• the secondary elastic lever increases the resistive force against movement of the position assurance member from the pre-lock position to an unmounted position.
• the secondary latching hook is arranged at a free end of the secondary elastic lever.
• the secondary latching hook is elastically supported by the secondary elastic lever with the maximum elasticity.
• the secondary locking arm comprises an extension at the free end of the secondary elastic lever, for preventing outward bending of the secondary locking arm in the pre-lock position.
• the extension provides further support of the secondary latching hook against unintended release from the connector housing.
• the secondary locking arm is arranged to be pushed to the inside of the position assurance member for unlocking the position assurance member to be free to move from the pre-lock position to an unmounted position.
• the secondary locking arm is pushed to the inside of the secondary latching hook for unlocking the position assurance member to be free to move from the pre-lock position to an unmounted position.
• the secondary locking arm comprising an outer actuation surface, that enables pushing the secondary locking arm to the inside of the position assurance member by means of a human finger.
• the outer actuation surface enables the release of the position assurance member from the connector housing manually, i.e. without addition tools.
• the primary latching hook is distanced from the base member at a larger distance than the secondary latching hook.
• the position assurance member comprises two primary locking arms and two secondary locking arms, wherein the position assurance member forms a generally U-shape.
• the position assurance member further comprises at least one terminal locking pin for locking an electrical terminal within the electrical connector assembly.
• the position assurance member is a terminal position assurance member (TPA member).
• the position assurance member further comprises at least one connector blocking pin for locking two electrical connectors in mated condition.
• the position assurance member is a connector position assurance member (CPA member).
• the connector blocking pin or blocking arm will be released only once the female connector is fully mated with the corresponding male connector or socket. Once the connector blocking arm is released, the CPA member can be moved from the pre-lock position to final-lock position. Thereby, the primary locking between female and male connector is guaranteed and secured.
• an electrical connector assembly comprises the position assurance member as explained above and a connector housing, wherein the secondary locking arm in the pre-lock position abuts a latching feature of the connector housing, wherein the latching feature has a slanted edge, that is pointed to the inside with a draft angle; and/or the secondary latching hook has a slanted edge, that that is pointed to the outside with a draft angle.
• the slanted edges further improve the latching security between the secondary latching hook and the latching feature of the connector housing.
• Fig. 1 shows a position assurance member 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• the position assurance member 1 can be a terminal position assurance (TPA) member or a connector position assurance (CPA) member for an electrical connector assembly 100.
• TPA terminal position assurance
• CPA connector position assurance
• the position assurance member 1 is movably mounted to a connector housing 110 of the electrical connector assembly 100. It is movable relative to the connector housing 110 between a pre-lock position 122 and a final-lock position 124 along a position assurance movement direction MD. In the pre-lock position 122 the position assurance member 1 is securely mounted to the connector housing 110 such that it cannot be unintentionally fall off.
• the position assurance member 1 is a TPA and is in the pre-lock position 122 the position assurance member 1 ensures that electrical terminals (not shown) can be inserted into and released from the connector housing 110.
• the position assurance member 1 In the final lock position 124 the position assurance member 1 locks the electrical terminals (not shown) securely within terminal receptacles 111 of the connector housing 110.
• the position assurance member has to be in the final lock position 124.
• the position assurance member 1 is a TPA it comprises preferably two terminal locking pins 50 for locking an electrical terminal with the electrical connector assembly 100. As shown in Fig.
• the terminal locking pins 50 are retracted from the terminal receptacles 111 allowing insertion and removal of the electrical terminal (not shown).
• the connector locking pins 50 extend into the terminal receptacles 111 to engage the electrical terminal and to secure it within the connector housing 110.
• the position assurance member 1 is a CPA and is in the pre-lock position 122 the position assurance member 1 ensures that electrical connector assembly 10, e.g. a male electrical connector, can be inserted into and released from a corresponding counter electrical connector assembly, e.g. a female electrical connector (not shown).
• electrical connector assembly e.g. a male electrical connector
• counter electrical connector assembly e.g. a female electrical connector (not shown).
• the position assurance member 1 locks the electrical connector assembly 100, e.g. a plug, securely with the counter electrical connector, e.g. a socket.
• connector blocking pins 60 are extended to secure the main locking arm (not shown) of the connector housing110.
• the CPA 1 is typically mounted on the housing 110 of a female connector assembly 100 in the pre-lock position 122, wherein the preferably flexible blocking pin 60 blocks the CPA 1 against closing. Only when the female connecter assembly 100 is properly mated with a corresponding male connector assembly (not shown) the blocking pin 60 of the CPA 1 gets released and CPA 1 can be pushed from the pre-lock position 122 into the final-lock position 124. In the final-lock position 124, CPA 1 secures an unintentional opening of the connection via the main locking arm (not shown) of female housing. Only by bringing the CPA 1 into its pre-lock position, the main locking arm can be released.
• the position assurance member 1 comprises substantially a U-shape with a base member 30 and two primary locking arms 10 extending substantially perpendicularly from the base member 30.
• the primary locking arms 10 comprise a generally flat shape
• the primary locking arms 10 comprises primary elastic levers 12 that extend from the base member 30 in position assurance movement direction MD.
• the primary locking arms comprise primary latching hooks 14.
• the primary latching hooks 14 elastically latch with corresponding first latching features 118 of the connector housing 110 for securely holding the position assurance member 1 at the connector housing in the final-lock position 124. Thereby, the primary latching hooks 14 provide a resistive force against movement from a final-lock position 124 to the pre-lock position 122.
• the primary latching hooks 14 elastically abut with the first latching features 118 for providing a resistive force against unintentionally moving the position assurance member 1 from the pre-lock position 122 into the final-lock position 124. This prevent unintentionally closing the position assurance member 1 during transport or assembly.
• the second latching features 118 can preferably be first vertical edges 118 of the connector housing 110. The edges 118 can be additionally slanted to control or decrease the opening force from the final-lock position 124 to the pre-lock position 122 if required.
• the position assurance member further comprises two secondary locking arms 20.
• Each one of the secondary locking arms 20 is integrated into one of the primary locking arms 10. Particularly each of the secondary locking arms 20 is arranged within a window 11 of the primary locking arm 10.
• Each one of the secondary locking arms 20 comprises a secondary elastic lever 22 that extends from the primary locking arm 10 against position assurance movement direction MD.
• the secondary locking arms 20 comprise secondary latching hooks 24 at the free ends 23 of the secondary locking arms 20.
• the secondary latching hooks 24 latch with a second latching features 116 of the connector housing 110 for providing a resistive force against movement of the position assurance member 1 from the pre-lock position 122 to an unmounted position 120.
• each of the secondary locking arms 20 further comprises an extension 26 at a free end 23 of the secondary elastic lever 22, for preventing outward bending of the secondary locking arm 20 in the pre-lock position 122.
• the extension 26 in the pre-lock position 122 engages behind the second latching features 116 such that the secondary locking arm 20 cannot be bent excessively outwards, and thus prevents damaging the secondary locking arm 20 if the position assurance member 1 is pulled unintentionally against mounting direction MD.
• the primary latching hook 14 is distanced from the base member 30 at a larger distance than the secondary latching hook 24.
• the primary latching hook 14 and the secondary latching hook 24 point in opposite directions.
• the primary latching hook 14 points inwards for engagement with first vertical edge 118 of the connector housing 110.
• the secondary latching hook 24 points outwards for engagement with the second latching feature 116 of the connector housing 110.
• the latching hooks 14, 24 latch in opposite directions. This arrangement ensures that particularly the latching force of the secondary latching hook 24 increases when the primary locking arm 10 is bend to release the primary latching hook from latching with the connector housing 110.
• the secondary latching hook 24 ensures that the position assurance member 1 is securely held at the connector housing 110. Thereby the pressure of the secondary latching hook 24 onto the second latching feature 116 increases, what improves the latching.
• the primary locking arm 10 can be bend outwards, as indicated by arrow 15, for moving the position assurance member 1 from the final-lock position 124 to the pre-lock position 122. Thereby, that the primary latching hook 14 disengages from the first latching feature 118. Simultaneously the secondary latching hook 24 also moves outward and the engagement distance d between the secondary latching hook 24 and the second latching feature 116 increases. This increase of the distance d increases the latching force of the secondary latching hook 24 with the second latching feature 116.
• the secondary elastic lever 22 of the secondary locking arm 20 points against the position assurance movement direction MD and in removal direction 21 of the position assurance member 1, the locking force of the secondary latching hook 24 further increases. This is because during an attempt to remove the position assurance member 1 in removal direction 21 the secondary elastic lever 22 slightly bends outwardly which further increases the latching force. The more the position assurance member 1 is moved in removal direction 21 the higher the latching force will be. Thus, the orientation of the secondary locking arm 20 against the position assurance movement direction MD further prevents the position assurance member 1 from unintentional release from the pre-lock position 122 to the unmounted position 120.
• the secondary locking arm 20 in the pre-lock position 122 abuts the second latching feature 116 of the connector housing 110, wherein the second latching feature 116 has a slanted edge 114, that is pointed to the inside with a draft angle ⁇ .
• the secondary latching hook 24 can also have a slanted edge, that is pointed to the outside with a draft angle ⁇ .
• An intentional release of the position assurance member 1 from the pre-lock position 122 to the unmounted position 120 can be done by tools 210 as shown in Figs. 5A-5C and manually by hand as shown in Figs. 7A-7B .
• the secondary locking arm 20 can be pushed to the inside as indicated in Fig. 5B by secondary locking arm 20'. Thereby, the secondary latching hook 24 disengages from the second latching feature 116.
• the primary locking arm 10 can maintain its position, i.e. is not bend inwards. This has the advantage, that only a small actuation force for bending the secondary locking arm 20 is required.
• both the primary locking arm 10 and the secondary locking arm 20 can be bent commonly to the inside. Thereby, likewise the secondary latching hook 24 disengages from the second latching feature 116. This has the advantage that excessive actuation forces onto the secondary locking arm 20 are prevented, what avoids any damage thereof.
• Figs. 6 and 7A-B shows a second, alternative embodiment of the position assurance member 1 that comprises an outer actuation surface 28, that enables pushing the secondary locking arm 20 to the inside of the position assurance member 1 by means of a human finger 200 for releasing the secondary locking arm 20 from engagement with the connector housing 110 in the pre-lock position 122.
• the outer actuation surface 28 is preferably arranged at the outer sides of each one of the two secondary locking arms 20 and preferably knurled to improve gripping and manually moving the position assurance member 1.
• the outer surface of the primary locking arm 10 can be knurled to improve the manual gripping.
• the position assurance member 1 of this second embodiment may be larger than the position assurance member 1 of the first embodiment, such that manual actuation can be considered.
• the two outer actuation surfaces 28 can be actuated by the fingers 200 of an operator in different finger positions. This improves ergonomics and allows versatile use of the position assurance member 1.
• the position assurance member 1 generally corresponds to the first embodiment.

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• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

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Citations (4)

• 2024
  • 2024-02-05 EP EP24155702.4A patent/EP4597762A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

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