Connector housing with pin fixing structure

Abstract

A connector housing with a pin fixing structure, the connector housing being provided with a terminal channel for inserting a pin terminal, and comprising a pin fixing structure for the pin terminal, characterized in that the pin fixing structure comprises: a plurality of flexible positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, the flexible positioning members being used for elastically engaging with the pin terminal; and a plurality of rigid positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, the rigid positioning members being used for abutting against each other with the pin terminal within a first predetermined length in the axial direction of the terminal channel to limit the swinging of the pin terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical connection, and more particularly to a connector housing with an improved pin fixing structure. Background Art

[0002] Electric connectors are widely used in various industrial fields, such as vehicle connectors in automotive electronic and electrical architectures, and energy storage connectors in photovoltaic power generation systems.

[0003] An electrical connector usually includes a plastic housing and terminals installed in the housing. After the terminals are inserted into the housing, the front and rear ends are electrically connected to other conductors through appropriate wiring techniques (for example, the front end of the terminal is plugged into the mating terminal, and the rear end of the terminal is crimped or bolted to the wire). Figure 1A The diagram shows a socket connector for accommodating pin terminals after wiring is completed, wherein the pin terminals 110 are used to be inserted into the plastic shell of the connector from the rear end of the socket connector 100, and then the front end of the socket connector 100 can be plugged together with a mating connector (not shown). Figure 1B Shown from another perspective Figure 1A The socket connector in the

[0004] Figure 2 A pin terminal 110 shown can be used for Figure 1A In the application shown. Figure 1A External view of Figure 1D A cross-sectional view of Figure 2 The pin terminal 110 includes a front end portion 112 inserted into the socket connector 100, and a rear end portion 116 remaining outside the socket connector 100. The rear end portion 116 may be flat and provided with a threaded hole 118, so that a copper plate or other conductor with a threaded hole may be connected to the rear end of the socket terminal 110 by a fastening element such as a bolt 120. The front end portion 112 of the pin terminal 110 may be divided into three sections, namely a positioning boss 113, a clamping section 114, and a plug head section 115. The positioning boss 113 is used to cooperate with the housing structure of the socket connector 100 to provide basic positioning. The clamping section 114 may be provided with an annular clamping groove 1141 for combining with the following Figure 1C The described elastic snap fit. A cylindrical plug section 115 is located at the end for establishing electrical connection with a mating terminal in a mating connector.

[0005] Figure 1C The front end (i.e., the other end opposite to the insertion end of the pin terminal) of the socket connector 100 is shown. Figure 1CAs shown, in the cavity of the socket connector 100 for accommodating the pin terminal 110 , there are six elastic buckles 130 equidistantly distributed along the circumferential direction. Figure 1D Display socket connector along Figure 1C The cross-sectional view of the AA section in Figure 1E show Figure 1D The enlarged view of the part shown in the box. Figure 1D and Figure 1E As shown, the elastic clip 130 is a cantilever structure extending from the inner wall of the cavity of the socket connector 100. The cantilever extends generally axially, and its free end includes a snap-in protrusion 135 protruding radially inward. The snap-in protrusion 135 is used to snap into the slot structure 1141 on the pin terminal, thereby fixing the pin terminal 110.

[0006] Further Figure 1E As shown, the section where the pin terminal 110 and the cavity of the socket connector 100 are physically connected is divided into a rigid fitting section 151 and an elastic fitting section 152: the rigid fitting section is defined by the depth of the rear terminal plug hole at the rear end of the socket connector 100, and the body of the pin terminal 110 is in close contact with the inner wall of the rear terminal plug hole within the entire thickness range; the elastic fitting section 152 is the section where the body of the pin terminal 110 and the elastic buckle 130 are in contact, and this section can be basically defined by the axial extension length of the elastic buckle 130. The length of the rigid fitting section 151 plus the length of the elastic fitting section 152 is the total fitting length between the pin terminal and the connector housing. For example, if the length of the rigid fitting section is 7.8 mm and the length of the elastic fitting section is 6.3 mm, the total fitting length is 14.1 mm.

[0007] In practical applications, the torque tool is used to turn Figure 1A The bolt 120 shown in the figure is used to realize the wiring operation. However, during the use of the torque tool, the force applied by the tool may cause the pin terminal 110 to shake in the housing, and the elastic buckle 130 will deform with the shaking of the pin. After the elastic buckle 130 is deformed, the interference between the buckle and the pin will be reduced, thereby increasing the risk of the pin falling off. In addition, since the pin terminal 110 shakes greatly during the installation process, it will affect the accuracy of the loading torque, thereby affecting the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0008] Therefore, it is hoped to develop a connector housing having an improved pin fixing structure, thereby improving the risk of failure caused by shaking of the pin terminal in the socket. Summary of the invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector housing is provided, wherein the connector housing defines a terminal channel for inserting a pin terminal, and includes a pin fixing structure for the pin terminal, characterized in that the pin fixing structure includes: a plurality of flexible positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, the flexible positioning members are used to elastically engage with the pin terminal; and a plurality of rigid positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, the rigid positioning members are used to abut against each other within a first predetermined axial length of the terminal channel to limit the swing of the pin terminal.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the above connector housing, in the axial direction of the terminal passage, the length of the flexible positioning member and the first predetermined length at least partially overlap.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the plurality of flexible positioning members are a plurality of elastic buckles extending axially along the terminal channel, and are used to be snapped into a snap-fitting slot structure on the pin terminal.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the plurality of rigid positioning members are a plurality of rigid ribs extending axially along the terminal passage.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the inner wall of the elastic buckle and the inner wall of the rigid rib are cocircumferential.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, an annular step is provided in the terminal passage, which is used to form a physical interference with the positioning boss of the pin terminal to define the end of the insertion stroke of the pin terminal.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the above-mentioned connector housing, the elastic buckle is a cantilever structure, which extends from the annular step. The free end of the cantilever structure is provided with a snap-in protrusion protruding radially inward, and the snap-in protrusion is used to snap into a slot structure on the plug-in terminal.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the rigid rib extends from the annular step to provide physical contact with the plug-in terminal at an angular position different from that of the elastic buckle.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, a height of the rigid rib is greater than a height of the elastic buckle.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the arc length of the rigid rib around the axis of the terminal passage is smaller than the arc length of the elastic buckle.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the arc length of the rigid rib around the axis of the terminal passage is greater than the arc length of the elastic buckle.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the number of the rigid ribs and the number of the elastic buckles are respectively greater than or equal to three.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the plurality of elastic buckles are evenly distributed along the circumference, and the plurality of rigid ribs are respectively established between adjacent elastic buckles.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, the rigid ribs and the elastic buckles are arranged one by one at intervals.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the connector housing, at the insertion depth of the pin terminal, the position to which the rigid rib extends axially exceeds the position where the elastic buckle is engaged with the pin terminal.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the above connector housing, the connector housing is a socket connector housing.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector kit is proposed, which includes the above-mentioned connector housing; and a pin terminal, which includes a tail end for wiring, and a front end for inserting into the connector housing, the front end includes a positioning boss, a snap-fitting section, and a plug-in section, the snap-fitting section has an annular snap-fitting groove for snap-fitting with an elastic snap-fitting section in the connector housing, wherein, when the pin terminal is inserted into the connector housing, the elastic snap-fitting section in the connector housing is snap-fitted with the snap-fitting groove on the snap-fitting section at the front end of the pin terminal for positioning. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to further illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, a more specific description of the embodiments of the present invention will be presented with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these drawings only depict typical embodiments of the present invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

[0027] In addition, it should be understood that the drawings show main connection relationships of various components, rather than all connection relationships, and the components and connections in the drawings are not necessarily drawn according to actual scale.

[0028] Figure 1A The present invention is based on the background art of a socket connector for receiving a pin terminal after wiring is completed.

[0029] Figure 1B show Figure 1A Another perspective view of the connector.

[0030] Figure 1C show Figure 1A A view of the front side of the receptacle connector.

[0031] Figure 1D show Figure 1A A longitudinal section view of the socket connector in FIG.

[0032] Figure 1E show Figure 1D A partial enlarged view of the longitudinal section.

[0033] Figure 2 Display can be used for Figure 1A A pin terminal for applications.

[0034] Figure 3 A longitudinal sectional view showing a connector housing having a pin fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 4 show Figure 3 A front end view of the connector housing is shown with the spring catch specifically marked.

[0036] Figure 5 A longitudinal sectional view showing a connector housing according to an embodiment of the present invention after a pin terminal is installed therein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The following detailed description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example specific embodiments in which the claimed subject matter may be practiced. It should be understood that the following specific embodiments are intended to provide a specific description of typical examples for the purpose of illustration, but should not be understood as limiting the present invention; those skilled in the art may make appropriate modifications and adjustments to the disclosed embodiments on the premise of fully understanding the spirit and purpose of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter of the present invention.

[0038] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of each described embodiment. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments described can be practiced without these specific details. Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0039] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application do not imply any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components or features. An embodiment is an exemplary implementation or example. References to "embodiment", "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "various embodiments" or "other embodiments" in the specification mean that the specific features, configurations or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments are included in at least some embodiments of the present technology, but not necessarily all embodiments. Various appearances of "embodiment", "one embodiment", or "some embodiments" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Elements or aspects from one embodiment may be combined with elements or aspects of another embodiment.

[0040] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0041] First reference Figure 3 - Figure 5 , describing the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the socket connector housing 300 includes a cavity with two ends open for accommodating pin terminals, for example, Figure 2 The pin terminal 110 is shown. The pin terminal 110 can be inserted from the rear end of the socket connector housing 300, and its plug section 115 passes through the terminal channel 301. An annular step 350 is provided in the terminal channel 301, which is used to form a physical interference with the positioning boss 113 of the pin terminal to limit the end of the insertion stroke of the pin terminal 110. Four elastic buckles 330 are distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel 301, which extend axially inward from the annular step 350 to cooperate with the clamping section 114 on the pin terminal 110. In addition to the elastic buckles 330, rigid ribs 340 are provided between adjacent elastic buckles, which also extend axially inward from the annular step 350 to provide physical contact and positioning with the plug terminal. Along the axial direction of the terminal channel 301, the height of the rigid rib 340 is greater than the height of the elastic buckle 330.

[0042] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 The front end of the socket connector housing 300 (i.e., the side opposite to the rear end of the inserted pin) is shown in the figure. Through this view, the distribution of the elastic buckles 330 and the rigid ribs 340 along the circumference of the terminal channel 301 can be seen. Each elastic buckle 330 is spaced 90 degrees apart, and each rigid rib 340 is spaced 90 degrees apart. Figure 3 As shown, the elastic buckle 330 has a cantilever structure, which extends substantially axially, and a snap-in protrusion 335 protruding radially inward is provided at the free end of the elastic buckle. The snap-in protrusion 335 is used to snap into the slot structure on the pin terminal 110, thereby fixing the pin terminal. Figure 3The inner wall of the elastic buckle 330 (excluding the snap-fitting protrusion at the end thereof) and the inner wall of the rigid rib 340 are cocircumferential, that is, their radial distances to the axis of the terminal channel 301 are equal.

[0043] Further integration Figure 5 By setting the socket connector housing 300 as follows Figure 3 and Figure 4 The pin fixing structure shown in FIG. Figure 2 When the terminal pin 110 is inserted, the engaging protrusions 335 on the four elastic buckles 330 are inserted into the slot structure 1141 of the engaging section 114 on the pin terminal 110. At the same time, the inner wall of the rigid rib 340 is also physically adjacent to the pin terminal 110, thereby increasing the rigid matching length of the pin terminal 110 and the socket connector housing 300.

[0044] Further with Figure 1D Compared with the case shown in FIG. 1 , the rigid mating length is further extended to the end of the rigid rib 340 based on the depth of the rear plug hole of the terminal. For example, compared with FIG. Figure 1E The rigid fit length of the existing product shown is 7.8 mm ( Figure 5 D1 in Figure 3 and Figure 4 The design increases the rigid mating length of the terminal pin to 14.9mm ( Figure 5 Since the length of the elastic buckle 330 at least partially coincides with the rigid fit length D2 in the axial direction of the terminal channel 301, the rigid fit and the flexible fit are combined and applied to the front end of the pin terminal 110. In this way, the shaking of the pin terminal can be suppressed, which can be reflected in that the maximum deflection angle between the pin terminal and the housing is reduced when the fitting clearance between the pin terminal 110 and the socket connector housing 300 is the same.

[0045] In an optional embodiment, the rigid rib 340 may be higher than the elastic buckle 330 , thereby further preventing or suppressing deformation of the elastic buckle during the client installation process, thereby reducing the risk of needle dislocation caused by deformation of the elastic buckle.

[0046] In the above embodiments, the details of the plug-in terminal and the rigid rib are only used as examples. As a feasible variation, in terms of the insertion depth of the plug-in terminal, the rigid rib axially extends to a position that exceeds the position where the elastic buckle engages with the plug-in terminal.

[0047] In the above embodiments, "rigid ribs" or "ribs" are understood to mean that the rib structure is different from the cantilever structure of the elastic buckle, and therefore does not have the physical property of easy elastic deformation like the elastic buckle. Therefore, its "rigidity" should be widely understood as various structural rigidities that are stronger than the cantilever structure, rather than absolute rigidity.

[0048] In the above embodiments, the Figure 2 The pin terminal 110 shown in FIG. Figure 4 The socket connector housing 300 shown has four elastic buckles 330 and four rigid ribs 340. It is understood that the pin terminal is not limited to Figure 2 The structure shown in the figure can be any terminal with a clamping section that cooperates with the elastic buckle; it can also be understood that the pin fixing structure of the socket connector housing is not limited to four elastic buckles and four rigid ribs, but can be any plural number of elastic buckles and rigid ribs, for example, two elastic buckles and two rigid ribs. In some variations, the number of elastic buckles and rigid ribs can be different, for example, four elastic buckles and two rigid ribs; further, the connector housing is not limited to the socket connector housing, but can be any suitable type of connector housing for accommodating pin terminals (therefore requiring a terminal stabilizing structure).

[0049] In the above embodiments, the use of elastic buckles is only a specific example of the present invention. It can be understood that several elastic buckles can be reasonably extended to several flexible positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, and such flexible positioning members are used to elastically engage with the pin terminal. Similarly, the use of rigid ribs is only a specific example of the present invention. It can be understood that several rigid ribs can be reasonably extended to several rigid positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, and such rigid positioning members are used to abut against each other with the pin terminal within the first predetermined length in the axial direction of the terminal channel. In the axial direction of the terminal channel, the length of the flexible positioning member at least partially overlaps with the first predetermined length, so that the rigid fit and the flexible fit are combined and applied to the front end of the pin terminal. In this way, the shaking of the pin terminal can be better suppressed and the maximum swing angle between the pin terminal and the housing can be reduced; further, by setting the position where the pin terminal and the flexible positioning member engage within the first predetermined length, the rigid positioning member further effectively limits the swing of the pin terminal.

[0050] The basic concepts of the present invention have been described above. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, the above disclosure is only for example and does not constitute a limitation of the present application. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements and amendments to the present application. Such modifications, improvements and amendments are suggested in the present application, so such modifications, improvements and amendments still belong to the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A connector housing, the connector housing being a plastic shell and provided with a terminal channel for receiving a pin terminal, characterized in that: The connector housing is also provided with a pin fixing structure for the pin terminal which is integrally formed with the plastic shell, and the pin fixing structure includes: A plurality of flexible positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, the flexible positioning members being used for elastically engaging with the pin terminals; and A plurality of rigid positioning members distributed along the circumference of the terminal channel, the rigid positioning members are used to abut against the pin terminal within a first predetermined length in the axial direction of the terminal channel to limit the swing of the pin terminal, Wherein, in the axial direction of the terminal channel, the length of the flexible positioning member and the first predetermined length at least partially overlap, and the position where the pin terminal and the flexible positioning member are elastically engaged is set within the first predetermined length.

2. The connector housing according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of flexible positioning members are a plurality of elastic buckles extending axially along the terminal channel and are used to be snapped into the card slot structure for snapping on the pin terminal.

3. The connector housing according to claim 2, wherein: The plurality of rigid positioning members are a plurality of rigid ribs extending axially along the terminal channel.

4. The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein: The inner wall of the elastic buckle and the inner wall of the rigid rib are cocircumferential.

5. The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein: An annular step is provided in the terminal channel, which is used to form physical interference with the positioning boss of the pin terminal to limit the end of the insertion stroke of the pin terminal.

6. The connector housing according to claim 5, characterized in that: The elastic buckle is a cantilever structure, which extends from the annular step. The free end of the cantilever structure is provided with a clamping protrusion protruding radially inward, and the clamping protrusion is used to be clamped into a clamping slot structure on the plug-in terminal.

7. The connector housing according to claim 6, wherein: The rigid rib extends from the annular step and is used to provide physical contact with the plug-in terminal at an angular position different from that of the elastic buckle.

8. The connector housing according to claim 7, wherein: The height of the rigid rib is greater than the height of the elastic buckle.

9. The connector housing according to claim 8, wherein: Around the axis of the terminal channel, the arc length of the rigid rib is smaller than the arc length of the elastic buckle.

10. The connector housing according to claim 8, wherein: Around the axis of the terminal channel, the arc length of the rigid rib is greater than the arc length of the elastic buckle.

11. The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein: The number of the rigid ribs and the number of the elastic buckles are respectively greater than or equal to three.

12. The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein: The plurality of elastic buckles are evenly distributed along the circumference, and the plurality of rigid ribs are respectively set up between adjacent elastic buckles.

13. The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein: The rigid ribs and the elastic buckles are arranged one by one at intervals.

14. The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein: In terms of the insertion depth of the pin terminal, the position to which the rigid rib extends axially exceeds the position where the elastic buckle is engaged with the pin terminal.

15. The connector housing according to claim 1, wherein: The connector housing is a socket connector housing.

16. A connector kit, comprising: The connector housing according to any one of claims 1 to 15; as well as The pin terminal comprises a tail end for wiring and a front end for inserting into the connector housing, wherein the front end comprises a positioning boss, a clamping section, and a plug-in section, wherein the clamping section has an annular clamping groove for clamping with an elastic buckle in the connector housing. When the pin terminal is inserted into the connector housing, the elastic buckle in the connector housing is engaged and positioned with the card slot on the card-fitting section at the front end of the pin terminal.

Images