Electrical connector and assembly method of the same

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a main housing, a conductive component, and a limiting element. The conductive component includes an inner conductor and a cable connected to the rear end of the inner conductor. The main housing has a forward-opening receiving cavity. One of the conductive component and the main housing has an elastic arm, and the other of the conductive component and the main housing has a fixing member. The elastic arm abuts against the fixing member to fix the conductive component inside the main housing. The limiting element is installed into the main housing from back to front after the conductive component is assembled into the main housing, and is used to abut against the elastic arm in the deformation direction to limit its deformation. Compared with the prior art, the present invention, by installing the limiting element into the main housing from the rear end of the main housing, eliminates the need for a separate slot on the main housing, resulting in better housing sealing and better waterproof performance of the electrical connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an electric connector and an assembling method thereof. Prior Art

[0002] For related prior art, please refer to Chinese patent CN219892473U, which discloses an electrical connector, which includes a housing, a terminal element located in the housing, and a terminal position guarantee member. A slot is provided on the housing, and the terminal position guarantee member is provided in the slot and extends from the slot into the housing to engage with the terminal element in the housing. The electrical connector of this structure has poor sealing and waterproof performance because the slot needs to be provided on the housing and the slot is located at the position where the terminal element is located.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved electrical connector to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with better sealing performance.

[0005] The object of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: an electrical connector, comprising a main shell, a conductive component and a limiting element, wherein the conductive component comprises an inner conductor and a cable connected to the rear end of the inner conductor; the main shell is provided with a receiving cavity opening forward, one of the conductive component and the main shell is provided with an elastic arm, and the other of the conductive component and the main shell is provided with a fixing piece, the elastic arm abuts against the fixing piece to fix the conductive component in the main shell, and the limiting piece is installed into the main shell from the back to the front after the conductive component is assembled into the main shell, so as to abut in the deformation direction of the elastic arm to limit its deformation.

[0006] The objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: An assembling method of an electrical connector, the assembling method comprising: a first step, providing a conductive component, the conductive component comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor, an insulator and a cable connecting the rear ends of the inner and outer conductors, the insulator being located between the inner and outer conductors and the conductive component being provided with a fixing piece; a second step, providing a main shell, the main shell comprising a receiving cavity and an elastic arm in the receiving cavity, the elastic arm being provided with an abutting portion; the conductive component is assembled into the main shell from back to front, the abutting portion abuts against the fixing piece forward; a third step, providing a limiting piece, the limiting piece passes through the cable from back to front and is inserted into the gap between the elastic arm and the inner wall of the main shell to limit the elastic deformation of the elastic arm; a fourth step, providing a rear sealing piece, the rear sealing piece passes through the cable from back to front and is installed into the main shell, and abuts against the rear end face of the limiting piece; a fifth step, providing a rear end cover, the rear end cover being fixed to the main shell.

[0007] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the limiting member is installed in the main shell, and there is no need to separately set a groove on the main shell, the shell has good sealing performance and good waterproof performance. Simple diagram description

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the electrical connector along line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the electrical connector along line III-III in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the electrical connector along line IV-IV in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main housing of the electrical connector in Figure 1; FIG6 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector in FIG1 , wherein the main housing and the secondary locking member are removed; FIG7 is a perspective exploded view of FIG6 from another angle, wherein the fixing member is separated from the conductive component; FIG8 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive assembly in FIG6, wherein the fixing member is removed; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the docking connector along line IX-IX in Figure 1; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the docking connector in Figure 1; FIG11 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive assembly in FIG10 , wherein the fixing member is removed; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the electrical connector in the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 is a sectional view of Figure 12 taken along line XIII-XIII; Figure 14 is a sectional view of Figure 12 along line XIV-XIV; and FIG. 15 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the conductive component and the limiting element in FIG. 12 . Implementation

[0009] 1 to 4, which are an electrical connector assembly 1000 of the first embodiment disclosed in the present invention, including an electrical connector 100 and a docking connector 200. After the two connectors are docked, the transmission of high-frequency signals is completed, and the two connectors are locked by their respective locking parts. The specific structure will be introduced below.

[0010] 2-3 and 8, the electrical connector 100 includes a housing 10 and a conductive component 20, the conductive component 20 includes an inner conductor 21 and a cable 22 connected to the rear end of the inner conductor 21, wherein the inner conductor 21 is a female terminal with a socket, the housing 10 includes a main housing 11 and a rear end cover 12 connected to the rear end of the main housing 11, wherein the main housing 11 is provided with a receiving cavity 110 that passes through in the front and rear directions, the main housing 11 is provided with a plurality of elastic arms 111 extending from front to rear in the receiving cavity 110, the elastic arms 111 are provided with abutment portions 112, the conductive component 20 is provided with a fixing member 201, and the conductive component 20 is installed into the main housing 11 from the rear end of the receiving cavity 110, the abutment portions 112 of the elastic arms 111 press the fixing member 201 forward to preliminarily limit the backward movement of the conductive component 20 provided with the fixing member 201. In order to make the elastic arm 111 fix the conductive component 20 more stably and reliably, the electrical connector 100 includes a limiter 51, which is pressed against the gap between the elastic arm 111 and the inner wall of the receiving cavity 110 to limit the elastic deformation of the elastic arm 111 and prevent the abutting portion 112 from separating from the limiter 51.

[0011] Combined with FIG5, preferably, in this embodiment, the abutting portion 112 is a hook portion provided at the end of the elastic arm 111, and the fixing member 201 is injection molded on the outer periphery of the conductive component 20. When the conductive component 20 is assembled from the back to the front into the receiving cavity 110, the hook portion abuts forward against the rear end of the fixing member 201. Referring to FIGS. 6-8, in addition to the inner conductor 21 and the cable 22, the conductive component 20 also includes an outer conductor 23 and an insulator 24 located between the inner conductor 21 and the outer conductor 23. The cable 22 is electrically connected to the ends of the inner conductor 21 and the outer conductor 23. The fixing member 201 is injection molded on the outer periphery of the outer conductor 23. Of course, in other embodiments, the fixing member 201 can also be configured to be fixed to other parts of the conductive component 20 in other ways.

[0012] In conjunction with FIGS. 3-4 , the fixing member 201 is provided with ridges 202 protruding outward from its outer circumference and grooves 203 located between the ridges 202. The hook portion of the elastic arm 111 passes through the corresponding groove 203 and presses against the rear end surface of the fixing member 201. When the ridges 202 protrude outward, they press against the inner wall surface of the main housing 11 in the circumferential direction to limit the conductive component 20 in the main housing 11 in the circumferential direction. In addition, the main housing 11 includes a front stopper 113, and the front end of the ridge 202 presses against the front stopper 113 to limit the forward movement of the conductive component 20. In order to make the fixing of the conductive component 20 by the elastic arms 111 more stable, the number of the elastic arms 111 is at least two, and they are evenly distributed on the outer circumference of the fixing member 201 along the circumferential direction. Preferably, in this embodiment, the number of the elastic arms 111 is three.

[0013] In conjunction with Figures 2-3 and 8, in order to better fix the fixing member 201 to the outer conductor 23, the outer conductor 23 includes a front portion 231 and a rear portion 232, the front end of the cable 22 is covered and electrically connected to the rear portion 232, the outer diameter of the front portion 231 is larger than the rear portion 232, and the fixing member 201 is formed at the intersection of the front portion 231 and the rear portion 232. The conductive component 20 includes a metal sleeve 25, the metal sleeve 25 is sleeved on the front end of the cable 22, and the front end of the metal sleeve 25 abuts against the rear end of the fixing member 201. In order to make the electrical connector 100 have a better waterproof effect, the electrical connector 100 also includes a rear sealing ring 52 located in the receiving cavity 110, and the front end of the rear sealing ring 52 abuts against the rear end of the limiter 51. The electrical connector 100 further includes a locking portion 114 disposed on the main housing 11. The locking portion 114 includes an elastic latching arm 115 extending forward from the upper surface of the main housing 11 and a secondary locking member 116 movably disposed on the main housing 11. A latching hole 117 is disposed at the front end of the latching arm 115.

[0014] 3, when the electrical connector 100 is assembled, the conductive component 20 is first installed into the main housing 11 from the rear end of the main housing 11. To facilitate the installation of the conductive component 20, the hook portion of the elastic arm 111 is provided with a guide surface 1110. When the conductive component 20 is installed, the elastic arm 111 expands outward under the action of the conductive component 20, that is, the elastic arm 111 deforms toward the gap between it and the main housing 11. When the conductive component 20 is installed in place (at this time, the front end of the ridge 202 of the fixing member 201 abuts against the front stop 113), the elastic arm 111 is elastically moved. The hook of the elastic arm 111 abuts against the rear end face of the fixing member 201; the limiting member 51 is installed into the accommodating cavity 110 from the rear end face of the main shell 11. Preferably, in this embodiment, the limiting member 51 is cylindrical, and the limiting member 51 passes through the cable 22 from back to front, and its front end is inserted into the gap between the elastic arm 111 and the inner wall of the main shell 11, thereby limiting the elastic deformation of the elastic arm 111; the rear sealing ring 52 is installed into the main shell 11 through the cable 22 from back to front, and abuts against the rear end face of the limiting member 51; the rear end cover 12 is fixed to the main shell 11.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9-11, the structure of the docking connector 200 is basically the same as that of the above-mentioned electrical connector 100. The docking connector 200 includes a housing 40, a conductive component 60 and a stopper element 71. The conductive component 60 includes an inner conductor 61, a cable 62, an outer conductor 63 and an insulator 64. The inner conductor 61 is a male terminal in the shape of a pin. The cable 62 is electrically connected to the rear ends of the inner conductor 61 and the outer conductor 63. It should be particularly noted that the description of the front and rear directions in the present invention is only for the convenience of describing a relative orientation relationship adopted, and for each connector, the end where the cable 22, 62 is located is the rear end, and the mating end opposite to the end where the cable 22, 62 is located is the front end.

[0016] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 9-10 , the housing 40 includes a main housing 41 and a rear end cover 42 connected to the rear end of the main housing 41 , wherein the main housing 41 is provided with a receiving cavity 410 that passes through in the front and rear directions, the main housing 41 is provided with a plurality of elastic arms 411 extending from the front to the rear in the receiving cavity 410, the elastic arms 411 are provided with abutting portions 412, the conductive component 60 is provided with a fixing member 601, and the conductive component 60 is installed in the main housing 41 from the rear end of the receiving cavity 410; the abutting portions 412 of the elastic arms 411 press the fixing member 601 forward to preliminarily restrict the conductive component 20 provided with the fixing member 601 from moving backward. In order to make the fixing of the conductive component 60 by the elastic arms 411 more stable and reliable, the limiting member 71 is pressed in the gap between the elastic arms 411 and the inner wall of the receiving cavity 410 to restrict the elastic deformation of the elastic arms 411 and prevent the abutting portions 412 from separating from the limiting member 71. The abutment portion 412 is the same as the abutment portion 112 of the above-mentioned electrical connector 100, and the abutment portion 412 is a hook portion provided at the end of the elastic arm 411. The fixing member 601 is injection molded on the outer periphery of the conductive component 60. When the conductive component 60 is assembled to the receiving cavity 410 from the back to the front, the hook portion abuts against the rear end of the fixing member 601. The fixing member 601 is injection molded on the outer periphery of the outer conductor 63. The fixing member 601 is provided with ridges 602 protruding outward from its outer periphery and grooves 603 located between the ridges 602. The hook portion of the elastic arm 411 passes through the corresponding groove 603 and abuts against the rear end surface of the fixing member 601. When the ridges 602 protrude outward, they abut against the inner wall surface of the main housing 41 in the circumferential direction to limit the position of the opposite conductive component 60 in the main housing 41 in the circumferential direction. In addition, the main housing 41 includes a front stopper (not shown in the figure), and the front end of the fixing member 601 abuts against the front stopper to limit the forward movement of the conductive component 60.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 10-11 , in order to make the elastic arms 411 fix the conductive component 20 more stably, the number of the elastic arms 411 is at least two, which are evenly distributed on the periphery of the fixing member 601 along the circumferential direction. Preferably, in this embodiment, the number of the elastic arms 411 is three. In order to make the fixing member 601 better fixed to the outer conductor 63, the outer conductor 63 includes a front portion 631 and a rear portion 632, the front end of the cable 62 is covered and electrically connected to the rear portion 632, the outer diameter of the front portion 631 is greater than the outer diameter of the rear portion 632, and the fixing member 601 is formed at the intersection of the front portion 631 and the rear portion 632. The conductive component 60 includes a metal sleeve 65, the metal sleeve 65 is sleeved on the front end of the cable 62, and the front end of the metal sleeve 65 abuts against the rear end of the fixing member 601. The docking connector 200 also includes a rear sealing ring 72 located in the receiving cavity 410, and the front end of the rear sealing ring 72 abuts against the rear end of the limiter 71.

[0018] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 10-11, the docking connector 200 further includes a locking portion disposed on the main housing 41, and the locking portion includes a latching protrusion 414 protruding upward from the upper surface of the main housing 41. When the connector 100 and the docking connector 200 are docked, the latching protrusion 414 enters the latching hole 117 of the latching arm 115 of the electrical connector 100, and the two connectors are docked. The pin-shaped inner conductor 61 is inserted into the inner conductor 21 with the socket to complete the electrical connection. The latching arm 115 is provided with an operating portion 118 at the end away from the latching hole 117. When the operating portion 118 is pressed, the latching arm 115 is elastically deformed, and the latching protrusion 414 is disengaged from the latching hole 117, and the two connectors can be separated. In order to prevent the two connectors from being accidentally unlocked when docking, the secondary lock 116 is operated to move to the bottom of the operating portion 118 to prevent the operating portion 118 from being accidentally pressed.

[0019] Referring to Figures 12-15, the electrical connector of the second embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the two connector structures of the first embodiment. The electrical connector 300 includes a main housing 31, a conductive component (not shown in the figure), a rear seal 73 and a rear end cover 32. The conductive component includes an inner conductor 91, a cable 92, an outer conductor 93 and an insulator 94 located between the inner conductor 91 and the outer conductor 93. An elastic arm 311 extending from front to back is provided in the main housing 31. The elastic arm 311 is provided with an abutment portion 312. The main housing 31 is provided with a receiving cavity 310. After the conductive component 90 is installed into the receiving cavity 310 from back to front, the abutment portion 312 abuts the conductive component forward in the receiving cavity 310 to prevent the conductive component from moving backward. The above-mentioned first embodiment is achieved by injection molding a fixing member 201, 601 on the outer side of the conductive component 20, 60, and abutting the fixing member 201, 601 to achieve abutment of the conductive component 20, 60.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 13-15 , in this embodiment, the conductive component is also provided with a fixing member 901. Different from the first embodiment described above, the fixing member 901 is a convex ring integrally protruding from the outer conductor 93 along its circumference, and the abutting portion 312 is a hook portion provided at the end of the elastic arm 311, and the hook portion abuts against the rear end of the convex ring. In addition, the electrical connector 300 also includes a stopper 80, which is inserted from the back to the front into the gap between the elastic arm 311 and the inner wall of the main housing 31 to prevent the elastic arm 311 from elastically deforming. When the electrical connector 300 is assembled, the conductive component is first assembled from the back to the front into the receiving cavity of the main housing 31, at which time the elastic arm 311 is elastically deformed outward, and after the conductive component is installed in place, the elastic arm 311 is elastically reset while its hook abuts against the rear end face of the convex ring; the stopper 80 is passed through the cable and assembled from the back to the front into the main housing 31; and the rear end cover 32 is installed to the main housing 31. Different from the first embodiment described above, in this embodiment, the number of elastic arms 311 is 2, and the limiting member 80 includes an annular main body 800 and two plug-in arms 81 extending forward from the annular main body 800. When the limiting member 80 is installed to the main shell 31 from back to front, the two plug-in arms 81 are respectively inserted into the gap between the two elastic arms 311 and the main shell 31 to limit the elastic deformation of the elastic arms 311.

[0021] In the above two embodiments of the present invention, the elastic arms 111, 311, 411 are all arranged on the main shell 11, 31, 41, and the fixing parts 201, 601, 43 are arranged on the conductive components 20, 60, 90. It can be understood that when the conductive components 20, 60, 90 are inserted into the main shell 11, 31, 41, the elastic arms 111, 311, 411 are limited from deforming in the direction away from the conductive components 20, 60, 90 by inserting the limiting parts 51, 71, 80. In other embodiments, the elastic arm can also be set on the conductive component 20, 60, 90, and the fixing part 201, 601, 43 can be set on the main shell. For example, in other embodiments, an injection molded part is injection-molded on the outer side of the outer conductor 23, 63, 93, and the injection molded part is provided with an elastic arm extending from front to rear on its outer periphery, and the elastic arm is spaced apart from the outer peripheral wall of the injection molded part. A fixing part is provided in the main shell, and the elastic arm abuts against the fixing part and limits the conductive component 20, 60, 90 from moving backward. Specifically, if a locking protrusion is provided on the elastic arm and a locking groove is provided in the main shell, when the conductive components 20, 60, 90 are assembled to the main shell 11, 31, 41 from the back to the front, the locking protrusion is locked in the locking groove to limit the backward movement of the conductive components 20, 60, 90; after the conductive components 20, 60, 90 are installed, the limiting components 51, 71, 80 are installed from the rear end of the main shell 11, 31, 41 into the main shell 11, 31, 41 and inserted into the gap between the elastic arm and the outer peripheral wall of the injection molded part to prevent the elastic arm from elastically deforming in a direction away from the fixing component.

[0022] The above descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Any equivalent changes made to the technical solution of the present invention by ordinary technicians in this field after reading the specification of the present invention are covered by the patent scope of the present invention.

[0023] 1000:Electrical connector assembly 100, 300: Electrical connector 200: Docking connector 10, 40: Shell 11, 31, 41: Main shell 110, 310, 410: receiving chamber 111, 311, 411: elastic arm 112, 312, 412: Contact part 113: Front stop 114: Locking part 115:Holding arm 116: Secondary lock 117: buckle hole 118: Operation Department 119:Guide surface 12, 42: rear end cover 20, 60, 90: Conductive components 21, 61, 91: Inner conductor 22, 62, 92: Cable 23, 63, 93: Outer conductor 231, 631: front 232, 632: rear 24, 64, 94: insulator 25, 65: Metal casing 51, 71, 80: limiter 52: Sealing ring 72, 73: rear sealing ring 81: Plug arm 800: Main body 201, 601, 43: Fixing parts 202, 602: ridges 203, 603: groove 414: Convex

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: The main housing has a receiving cavity; a conductive component includes an inner conductor and a cable connected to the rear end of the inner conductor; a limiting member; and a rear sealing ring; wherein, the main housing has a plurality of elastic arms extending from front to back within the receiving cavity, and the ends of the elastic arms are provided with hooks; the conductive component has a fixing member on its outer side; when the conductive component is inserted into the receiving cavity from back to front, the elastic arms elastically deform circumferentially under the action of the conductive component, and after being inserted into place, the hooks abut forward against the fixing member; the limiting member is inserted into the receiving cavity after the conductive component is inserted, and the limiting member presses against the elastic arms and the main housing to limit the elastic deformation of the elastic arms circumferentially; the front end of the rear sealing ring abuts against the rear end of the limiting member to limit the rearward movement of the limiting member.

2. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein, The conductive component includes an outer conductor disposed on the outside of the inner conductor, and the fixing member is fixed to the outside of the outer conductor by injection molding.

3. The electrical connector as described in claim 2, wherein, The fastener has a protruding ridge extending outward from the outer periphery and a groove located between two adjacent protruding ridges. The hook of the elastic arm passes through the corresponding groove and presses against the rear end face of the fastener.

4. The electrical connector as described in claim 3, wherein, The main housing includes a front baffle, and the protruding ridge abuts against the front baffle when it faces forward.

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein, The conductive component includes an outer conductor located outside the inner conductor, and the fixing member is a convex ring integrally formed by the outer conductor extending outward in a radial direction.

6. An electrical connector, comprising: The main housing has a receiving cavity extending in the front-to-back direction; a conductive component includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and cables connected to the rear ends of the inner and outer conductors; a limiting member; and a rear sealing ring; wherein, one of the conductive component and the main housing has an elastic arm, and the other of the conductive component and the main housing has a fixing member. When the conductive component is inserted into the receiving cavity from back to front, the elastic arm deforms in the deformation direction, and when the conductive component is inserted into place, the elastic arm abuts against the fixing member to restrict the rearward movement of the fixing member, thereby restricting the rearward movement of the conductive component. After the conductive component is installed in the main housing, the limiting member is inserted into the receiving cavity from back to front and abuts against the elastic arm in the deformation direction of the elastic arm. The front end of the rear sealing ring abuts against the rear end of the limiting member to restrict the rearward movement of the limiting member.

7. The electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein, The elastic arm extends rearward from the inner wall of the main housing; the fixing member is formed by injection molding on the outside of the outer conductor or the fixing member is integrally protruding outward from the outside of the outer conductor.

8. The electrical connector as described in claim 7, wherein, The end of the elastic arm is provided with a hook, which abuts against the rear end face of the fixing member, and the limiting member is located between the elastic arm and the inner wall of the receiving cavity.

9. A method for assembling an electrical connector, comprising: The first step is to provide a conductive component, which includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, an insulator, and a cable connected to the rear ends of the inner and outer conductors. The insulator is located between the inner and outer conductors, and the conductive component is provided with a fixing member. The second step is to provide a main housing, which includes a receiving cavity and an elastic arm located within the receiving cavity. The elastic arm is provided with an abutment portion. When the conductive component is assembled into the main housing from back to front, the elastic arm elastically deforms in the deformation direction, and when the conductive component is in place, the abutment portion abuts against the fixing member. The third step is to provide a limiting member, which passes through the cable from back to front and inserts into the gap between the elastic arm and the main housing wall to limit the elastic deformation of the elastic arm. The fourth step is to provide a rear seal, which passes through the cable from back to front and is installed into the receiving cavity, abutting against the rear end face of the limiting member. The fifth step is to provide a rear end cover, which is fixed to the main housing.

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